Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward

 

My thoughts

I read and loved When The World Fell Silent. It was so good. I grabbed this one too with the highest of expectations....

This book is set aboard the Titanic. Two friends, Hannah and Lou, along with Hannah's husband Charles boarding. Both women have secrets. Even from each other. 

Hannah is hoping to rekindle the spark between herself and Charles. Since the loss of their first baby things have been pretty much nonexistent.. She is afraid that Charles blames her or has just fallen out of love with her. She also has something very important to say to Charles. This could be lifechanging. 

Lou is a strong woman. She marches for the betterment of women's rights. For them to not be treated so harshly. She also has a secret reason for going on this trip. Not just to spend time with her very best friend but she has a secret. Also she meets a man onboard that she falls head over heels for. Though she has always said she will never marry. Her father is forcing her to marry or be totally cut off from financial support. To a man she truly despises.

The first half of this book is a little slow. Repetitive. But also filled with information that lets you know what is going on. The second half is fast and furious. So so sad too.

This story takes you aboard the Titanic and then the rescue boat the Carpathia. How nice the passengers where on the Carpathia. And so understanding. These two women, Hannah and Lou, went through so much. But they were ever vigilant to each other. After one big hiccup that is. When Hannah found out what Lou was hiding... Oh my.

I shed so many tears reading this book. It was very good. Emotional is not the word for it. It was devastatingly sad in places. 

This book has one of the best last lines I've ever read: "I'm coming. Hold on, dearest." I left off the to and from for a reason. If you read this one you should know that line and how much it meant to these two women. Best friends. Sisters.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this ARC. Beautiful story...

4 stars 

About

From the author of the internationally bestselling novel, WHEN THE WORLD FELL SILENT, comes a breathtaking tale of secrets, betrayal, and the enduring power of friendship. 

Aboard the Titanic, where opulence knows no bounds and the horizon seems limitless, two women fight for the futures they dream of, fraught with secrets that could change everything.

Hannah Martin is clinging to the hope that six days on this grand ship will heal the wounds in her marriage to Charles. Beneath her poised exterior lies a desperation to mend what was shattered and conceal a secret that could upend their lives forever.

Louisa Phillips, spirited and uncompromising, is escaping her family’s insistence on a passionless marriage. But this daring step could also sever the deepest bond in her life.

As the ‘unsinkable' ship strikes the iceberg, amidst the chaos and icy waters, lives are changed forever. In the face of impending doom, what dreams will Hannah and Lou decide are worth saving, and at what cost?

This evocative historical fiction will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, this is a poignant tale of love, choice, and survival against the odds.