Includes a reading group guide.

After losing her husband on the RMS Titanic, Madeleine Astor, who is constantly surrounded by scandal, finds her status elevated to that of a virtuous, tragic heroine and must decide whether to accept the role assigned to her or carve out her own extraordinary path.

Madeleine Talmage Force attracts the attention of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and the scandal of Jack's recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love-- and becomes the press's favorite target. On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time, and is happily pregnant. Returning home in the spring of 1912, aboard the swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic, they are separated-- Jack helps her into a liftboat and promises to see her soon. Four months later the widowed Madeleine gives birth to their son. Her most important decision still lies ahead: whether to accept the role assigned to her, or carve out her own remarkable path. -- adapted from jacket