The Second Mrs. Astor - Book Review

 

The Second Mrs. Astor

by Shana Abe

What is it about:

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…

What did I think of it:

Some of my long time followers might know I can't resist books that feature the Titanic. So when I saw this book I had to get my trotters on it, even though I'm pretty familiar with Madeleine Astor's life story.

And let me tell you: do not get too excited about that last part of the above blurb. This book is about Madeleine's relationship with John Jacob Astor alone, not about her relationships after that.

That being said, I very much enjoyed this book. Even though the storytelling is distant at times, I was swept up in the love story. And I must say: with all Madeleine has to endure because she gets courted by Astor and eventually marries him, I can easily imagine she actually did fall in love with him. Because unless her parents forced her, there's only two reasons why she'd put up with all the harassing by reporters, the snubs of Astor's peers, and all the other stuff: Love (or maybe infatuation) or Money. And knowing how her life turned out after the end of this book, I think money wasn't the main motive in Madeleine's life.

Each chapter starts with Madeleine writing to her son who's a baby in first person, and soon after switches to third person, following Madeleine as she gets to know John Jacob Astor.

I loved reading the whole lead up to their marriage and reading about their honeymoon. Then they board the Titanic and you know what will happen soon. I was glad to discover Abe did her research and there were no big errors to drag me out of the story so I could stay emotionally invested in the events of that fatal night.

All in all a well written and believable love story, although I secretly hope Abe will write a sequel to cover Madeleine's further life. I want more.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful love story connected to the Titanic

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On McPig's Wishlist - Highway Bodies

 

Highway Bodies

by Alison Evans

Who will you rely on in the zombie apocalypse?

*

Bodies on the TV, explosions, barriers, and people fleeing. No access to social media. And a dad who’ll suddenly bite your head off – literally. These teens have to learn a new resilience…

Members of a band wield weapons instead of instruments.

A pair of siblings find there’s only so much you can joke about, when the menace is this strong.

And a couple find depth among the chaos.

Highway Bodies is a unique zombie apocalypse story featuring a range of queer and gender non-conforming teens who have lost their families and friends and can only rely upon each other.

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Eat the Rich #3 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #3

by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak (Illustrator)

What is it about:

Still uncertain about what she saw in Pip's office, Joey confides in Kitty... but Kitty's response only confuses her more, leaving Joey with no choice but to play along with the family. Until Fourth of July, when at a party Joey suspects what she thought she saw then is happening again. Can Joey come to terms with what is really happening in Crestfall Bluffs... and can she still walk away alive?

What did I think of it:

This issue takes the story in a direction I did not see coming. I expected there to be an acceleration of the violence from the first issue, but instead there's more revelations, and Joey does things I hadn't thought she would do.

I can't say I minded, I was intrigued by the unrolling events, and I'm eager for the next issue to see where this all will lead to. You bet I'll get my trotters on the next issue once it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool and suspenseful horror story.

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Teaser Tuesdays - Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea

 

This was the first time Bay recognized the face of the new arrival. She always checked the face first if there was one, just in case, hoping it wasn't Deb.

(page 33, Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea by Sarah Pinsker)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating - Book Review

 

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

by Adiba Jaigirdar

What is it about:

Everyone likes Humaira "Hani" Khan—she’s easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl her friends absolutely hate—Ishita "Ishu" Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.

Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

What did I think of it:

 We were in the mood for a fake dating story, but the one we had pre-ordered and released in September is still in backorder. So we decided to pick up this book instead.

And this is such a fun read.

I liked Ishu from the start. She's serious, an overachiever, and has family issues I could relate to. Hani is a sweet character as well, but it's clear why everyone likes her: she's a bit of a doormat. So when they started fake dating and Ishu points out how Hani's friends treat her I was hooked and totally rooting for the both of them.

There's lots of complications and obstacles the both of them have to conquer, and that's not even counting the obstacles they create themselves by not communicating at times. I was totally engrossed and had to keep reading to see how they would get their happy ending.

All in all this is a fun and enjoyable read, that I most definitely will put on me keeper shelves. I'll also investigate what else Jaigirdar has written.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool YA Fake Dating read.   

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On McPig's Radar - The Ghosts of Who You Were

 

The Ghosts of Who You Were
by Christopher Golden

In this chilling new collection from Bram Stoker Award-winner Christopher Golden, the author takes you on a tour of his darkest nightmares. 

From a little door inside an elevator to a hellish prison for stolen children, from a terrifying future where nightfall means death to a fairy tale past in which lies and illusion enrage the ghosts all around us. The Ghosts of Who You Were collects some of Golden's finest stories, tales of bad fathers and ancient monsters, the promises of strangers, parties that never end, and a collection of Hollywood curses. 

Featuring the Bram Stoker Award-nominated story "The Bad Hour," The Ghosts of Who You Were is Golden's finest collection yet.

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Please Remain Calm - Book Review

 

Please Remain Calm (This is Not a Test #1.5)

by Courtney Summers

What is it about:

In this gripping sequel to THIS IS NOT A TEST, Rhys and Sloane are headed for a safe haven when they get separated along the way. Rhys is determined to reunite with Sloane until he discovers people who might need him more--people who offer him the closest he'll get to everything he's lost, if they can just hold on long enough.

Rhys thinks he has what it takes to survive and find the girl he lost, but in a world overrun by the dead, there are no guarantees and the next leg of his journey will test him in unimaginable ways ...

What did I think of it:

After my previous read I needed some zombies, so I picked up this novella. I read This is Not a Test back in 2012 and really liked it, even though the zombies were more background noise.

Not so in this sequel!

Rhys and Sloane find zombies everywhere they turn. They try to get to a safe haven, but the zombies don't make it easy. I very much enjoyed the atmosphere and the actual threat of the zombies in this novella.

When they get separated Rhys ends up with a family of three who take him under their wings, but that doesn't mean his problems are over. I was eager to see how this all would end.

The ending is both bleak and satisfying at the same time. I had a great time with this novella and might reread This is Not a Test one of these days. Although I should add I think you can read this novella without having read This is Not a Test.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool Zombie Novella

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