Publisher: 25th April 2023 by Kensington Books
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: historical fiction, romance
Rating: 4 cups
Synopsis:
This sweeping novel of historical fiction is inspired by the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington—a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.
Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.
Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart...
An American Beauty brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history—and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules.
My Thoughts
Arabella Huntington embodied the rags-to-riches dream from the Gilded Age in America. Rising from the poverty post Civil War, she went on to become one of the most influential women of her era. Shunned by society she became the wealthiest woman at one stage, a woman with such a mysterious backstory. Having adored Shana’s previous novel, The Second Mrs Astor, I was excited to read of yet another memorable woman from the past.
‘I am not a wife now, but something else: a shadow wife, kept in my place just beyond society’s golden sun, pinned at the brink of propriety at the whim and courtesy of a generous man. A shadow wife, with a shadow child.’
Shana writes so well in providing the richly detailed backstory to Arabella’s past and what led her to such a position in society. This is a character with not only great beauty and charm but also the wit and strength to move beyond survival for herself and her family. Inspired by true events Shana gives her readers a glimpse into not only an extraordinary story but also a window into society through a range of characters, be they friend or foe. Combine this with lavish settings and locations and history buffs will be so very happy.
‘By God, she would not be quiet. She would not obey. She was going to take what was hers and she was going to succeed, because she had to succeed. Her life, her family’s and her child’s, depended upon it. And she refused to be afraid.’
Whilst I enjoyed this book I found it not up to the level of The Second Mrs Astor. The tale of a poor girl discovered by a rich older man, scorned wife, mistress to wife, struggle to recognise illegitimate son etc has been covered in other similar tales. So it did not feel as fresh as the tale of Mrs Astor. However, this is still such a great read for history buffs, particularly those interested in the Gilded Age and the rise of strong female leads.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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