I never cry while reading books, but this one almost got me. Yes, I am still sailing on the Titanic. I am floating aimlessly in the vast ocean with no TBR shelf in sight. I was enchanted by Gill Paul's Titanic Love Stories: The True Stories of 13 Honeymoon Couples Who Sailed on the Titanic. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Madeleine and John Jacob. So I did some half-assed detective work and found this gem. Book deities smiled upon me. **The Second Mrs. Astor** by Shana Abe was inspired by the r...

Shana Abe's *The Second Mrs. Astor* is a captivating and well-crafted historical fiction novel rooted in true people and events. It beautifully illustrates the courtship and marriage of John Jacob Astor IV and Madeleine, his charming young wife, and paints a vivid picture of their adventures, culminating in the heartbreaking tragedy of the Titanic. Before reading this book, I only had a passing knowledge of John Jacob Astor IV, but Abe's characterizations of him and Madeleine have sparked my int...

I absolutely loved "The Second Mrs. Astor" by Shana Abe. It was so captivating to see how Madeleine Force won over John Jacob “Jack” Astor. The way society treated her for not being from a wealthy family and for being the "second" wife was infuriating. The Titanic scenes brought tears to my eyes because, of course, I knew what was coming. So many genuinely good people perished while absolute cowards were scrambling onto the lifeboats. Astor's son's heartbreak was palpable, never truly accepting ...

(1/2 star)At first glance, *The Second Mrs. Astor* by Shana Abe seems like it would be a captivating read. John Jacob Astor, heir to the Astor fortune, falls for an 18-year-old when he's 47, and the two get married (his second, her first). Sadly, their marriage lasts only a few months before they book passage on the Titanic, and the rest is history: Mr. Astor's now-pregnant wife survives the sinking; Mr. Astor does not. A tragic love story, right? This could have been a great historical fiction ...

Noooo... No!!! NOOOO!! Why, oh why did I put myself through this?

Ah, by the way, I DNF'd it. Yes, it was *that* bad!
The heroine was a complete airhead...

...totally useless...

...without the will to do anything, always complaining about insignificant things...

Yes, I know that "The Second Mrs. Astor" by Shana Abe is about a socialite, but this was just too much! Some historical fiction books are better than others, and this one didn't work for me.

Shana Abe's *The Second Mrs. Astor* is a captivating historical fiction novel detailing the romance, marriage, and heartbreaking conclusion of Madeline Force and John Jacob Astor IV's relationship. At only seventeen years old, Madeline finds herself courted by Jack Astor, America's wealthiest widower, a man of forty-six. Their courtship blossoms into a marriage that offers Madeline significant advantages, yet, despite the skepticism of his family, she marries him for love, not his fortune. Soon ...

Who doesn't love a good Titanic story?*The Second Mrs. Astor* by Shana Abe is a work of historical fiction that centers on Madeline Force Astor. The novel spans from Madeline's earliest memory of John Jacob (Jack) Astor, their subsequent courtship, marriage, and travels. Naturally, the story builds towards their fateful journey aboard the Titanic, which ultimately transforms Mrs. Astor into one of the most famous widows in the world. If you're looking for historical fiction book reviews, this mi...

What a beautiful and enchanting love story, with a hauntingly tragic ending, from the amazingly talented Shana Abe! I've read many of her books, but "The Second Mrs. Astor" is my new favorite. With fabulous storytelling and an equally beautiful storyline that flowed flawlessly, page after page of beautifully written words, it's a book that makes you feel as if you are there, watching Jack and Madeleine as they fall in love. Even with their age difference, you can see that these two souls were me...

In 1912, Madeline Forces recounts her story to her son about his father, Colonel Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the world. Madeline, at seventeen, meets Colonel John "Jack" Astor, a divorced man nearly thirty years her senior. His courtship begins with daily flower deliveries. He wins her over with his undivided attention, making her feel like the most important person in the universe. This is followed by intimate excursions, drives along the coast, and picnics on secluded beaches by the se...

This book was alright. I can definitely appreciate the amount of research that Shana Abe put into it. The writing itself is solid, but it didn't quite grab me the way I expected, especially considering how scandalous the real story was back in the day. The part about the Titanic sinking felt very similar to scenes from the movie. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed "The Second Mrs. Astor" more if it had focused on Madeline's life after her husband died – dealing with the inheritance drama and...