"queen of the waves" by janice thompson

About the book (provided by Litfuse): When pampered Jacqueline Abingdon makes secret plans to elope with the family gardener, she asks another woman to take her place on the much anticipated maiden voyage of the Titanic. Tessa Bowen hails from a poor corner of London but has been granted the opportunity of a lifetime—a ticket to sail to America aboard a famed vessel. But there’s a catch: she must assume Jacqueline’s identity. For the first time in her life, Tessa stays in luxurious quarters, dresses in elegant gowns, and dines with prestigious people. Then a wealthy American man takes an interest in her, and Tessa struggles to keep up the ruse as she begins falling for him. When tragedy strikes, the game is up, and two women’s lives are forever changed.

My take: I've always been very interested in the Titanic because family legend has it that my great-grandmother planned to emigrate from Wales to the United States on the ship ... but the third-class tickets sold out before she could get one. As a third-class passenger, her chances of survival would have been slim—so I am very thankful that she couldn't get a ticket!

This year, the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, has seen a wealth of Titanic coverage. From novels to miniseries to the re-release of the film Titanic, the Titanic has received the royal treatment. Queen of the Waves is the third novel about the Titanic that I've had the pleasure of reading this year, and it is unquestionably my favorite. Author Janice Thompson does a fantastic job of putting the reader on the Titanic. As I viewed the opulence through the character's eyes, I could truly imagine what it looked like. (Of course, it also helps that I've seen the movie Titanic!)

However, as great as Thompson's descriptions were, what really pulled me in were her characters. I loved Tessa, Nathan (the American who falls for Tessa-as-Jacquie), and Iris (Jacquie's lady's maid); I hurt for Jacquie when things didn't turn out as she'd planned; and I wished for a Roland (Jacquie's fiance) of my own. The only character I didn't fully connect with was Peter, Tessa's brother and Jacquie's boyfriend. But that's a small quibble when compared to the joy I derived from reading this novel!

I also loved that John Harper, an evangelist who died in the Atlantic while still proclaiming the gospel, made an appearance in the book. One of the other Titanic books I read this year was about him, so it was fun to see his name pop up again.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it. 4-1/2 stars!

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Buy the book.
See my reviews of the other Titanic books: Tricia Goyer's By the Light of the Silvery Moon and Robert Plant's Titanic: The Ship of Dreams.

About the author: Award-winning author Janice Thompson, who also writes under the name Janice Hanna, has published nearly eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more.

She formerly served as vice president of the Christian Authors Network and was named the 2008 Mentor of the Year by the American Christian Fiction Writers.

Thompson lives in Spring, Texas, near her four grown daughters and young grandchildren. She leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends and two mischievous dachshunds.

Readers can keep up with Janice Thompson by visiting janiceathompson.com, becoming a fan on Facebook or following her Twitter.

About the giveaway:
Celebrate with Janice by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Queen of the Waves and Where the Trail Ends and join Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the books – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."