A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly

 

Based on the remarkable true story of the Carpathia—the one ship and her legendary captain who answered the distress call of the sinking Titanic.

Shortly after midnight on April 15, 1912, the captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, wakes to a distress signal from the Titanic, which has struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Though information is scarce, Rostron leaps into action, determined to answer the call for help. But the Carpathia is more than four hours away, and there are more questions than answers: Will his ship hold together if pushed to never-before-tested speeds? What if he also strikes an iceberg? And with the freezing temperatures, will there be any survivors by the time the Carpathia arrives?

Kate Connolly is a third-class passenger on Titanic, and she is among the last to receive instruction and help after it hits an iceberg. Despite the chaos of abandoning ship, Kate is able to board a lifeboat, though after seeing the Titanic sink into the abyss and hearing the cries from hundreds of people still in the water, she wonders if any rescue is even possible. 

Told in alternating chapters from both Captain Rostron and Kate Connolly, this novel is a compelling, heart-pounding account of two eyewitnesses to an epic disaster. Rostron’s heroic and compassionate leadership, his methodical preparations for rescue, and his grit and determination to act honorably and selflessly to save lives and care for the survivors, sets the course for this awe-inspiring story.

* Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

Another fantastic historical fiction book for the WIN!  Historical fiction is honestly one of my favorite genres because I love learning about events in history in a more story like fashion.  Everyone knows about the Titanic, but not everyone knows about the Carpathia and it's captain and crew who saved the survivors of the Titanic.  I surely didn't but I'm so glad I had this opportunity to learn about it here.  Captain Rostron and his crew were ordinary people who did an extraordinary thing.  It deserves being known and remembered.

I loved the alternating perspectives of Arthur Rostron and Kate.  Kate was on the Titanic and having her viewpoint was so important to the story.  It gave both sides to this story feeling and depth.

After finishing this book my husband asked me how it was.  Boy, did he get an earful because I wanted him to know all about the Carpathia too.  I know the story of the Titanic is horrific but it was nice to read about the good people who worked so hard to help and make a difference in the lives of the survivors.  Just over 700 of them.

Here's a look at the heroic Captain Arthur Rostron!

Amazing, right?  I love having a picture of him.  Real life.  Real person.  The author does a follow up after the story so we know what happened to the main characters, who were based off real people.  That was fun to read too.

I really loved this book.  Can you tell?!  😁  This is one I will be recommending to historical fiction lovers.  I love the cover too.

Content:  death, peril.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

REBECCA CONNOLLY is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She’s always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out.

Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master’s degree from West Virginia University.

 Learn more about Rebecca and her books at rebeccaconnolly.com