When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expectedβand a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children. For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems theyβve both found happiness in the midst of their mourningβuntil Henryβs first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.
I quite enjoyed this fictionalized account of a true story and actual legal case from the late 1800βs. I am looking forward to a great book club discussion about this story. Many womenβs issues, what ifβs, and the fact that the truth is often stranger than fiction will be brought to the table. Never before had I considered the concept of polygamy by accident! Surprisingly, I liked the two wives equally which I didn’t think I would. The bonding of these two women in such remarkable circumstances was surprising, yet it speaks to the power of what women will to do to keep their family whole. Kudos to the author for making both women so likable and relatable. Look forward to reading more from this author.
Review:Strangers in the Night by Heather Webb was an intimate introduction to Frank Sinatra and his lifelong love, Ava Gardner. Admittedly, I knew next to nothing about the man or the woman behind their star status. I for sure have heard Frankβs music as my parents were, and still are, fans of his songs.The good news is that by writing in the first person from Frankβs POV and Avaβs POV, the reader is introduced to them in an accessible way. It didnβt matter if youβve been a lifelong fan or not familiar with either of them, we all start the book as equals.I was shocked at the at how fast their relationship could go from cold to hot. The way they could both love and fight with such passion and acrimony was crazy. Yet they always, well almost always, came back to one another.Learning about how they were raised, the struggles they went through, and the allowances given to men (not women) were all addressed throughout the book. Depression, alcoholism, addiction, and infidelity were commonplace in star-studded Hollywood.Fans of movies and old Hollywood will adore this book and folks like me, who knew little to none about Frank and Ava will enjoy it too!Heather Webb, Author @msheatherwebb @williammorrowbooks π What's your favorite song? π#newreview#bookreader#bookreview#goodbookfairybookreview #tbr #AddtoTBR#goodbookfairy... See MoreSee Less
Thanks, this one sounds very interesting and I’ll add it to my ever lengthening “to read” list.
Marilyn B.