I generally love anything written by Anna Lee Huber. Many obviously found the story fascinating. Unfortunately I just didn’t click with it. Perhaps I’m just so over anything to do with the Titanic. This was a miss for me.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.

I thought Sisters of Fortune was a good fictional account of the Titanic. I am giving it four and a half stars.

I like this one and her unique take on the Titanic. It was a good story well told . I do feel that it suffered from too many characters which made the story disjointed but overall a good story on an event that still haunts us a 100 years later

I love stories about historical events and the Titanic is my favorite.
A family of six visiting Europe will go home on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. The three girls Flora, Mabel and Alice are ready for their set out future. But things change during their trip. But will happen with them when Titanic sinks. Who will survive and what future will they have?
I really enjoyed this story, all the sisters are so different but they stand with each other in difficult times.
This story is well written with great character building. For fans of historical fiction it’s a must read.

The cover has the Titanic right at the centre of it which is fitting as that is where the plot is based throughout the book. The cover also features a young woman dressed in the style of the era complete with hat, gloves and jewellery. The cover certainly fits the book well.

The book is set on the Titanic, so obviously there are certain facts that cannot be changed but are mentioned within the book. The book also has to stick to a certain timeline as to how the events occurred. It was a bit odd reading the book but kind of knowing what was coming up in the timeline, but I did really enjoy the book.

The interior of the great unsinkable Titanic is described really well and you definitely get a sense of the opulence and atmosphere those passengers were surrounded by. The author really represents the era well in her descriptions of surrounding, etiquette, expectations of women and even the slang and sayings of the era such as 'To the berries' = all so exciting. I had to look it up!

The book concentrates of three of the Fortune Sisters who have been travelling with their parents. The family consist of 64 year old father Mark Fortune, a very proud self-made millionaire, his 60 year old wife Mary Fortune, they had six children, the eldest of which 34 year old Robert is married and lives in Vancouver. Their eldest daughter Clara is 30 years old and married to Herbert Hutton. Robert and Clara are with their own families so didn’t go on the trip. The Fortune children on the trip which ends up with them travelling home on the Titanic, are 28year old Flora who is the dutiful daughter, who has postponed her wedding to banker Crawford Campbell to go on the trip as a chaperone to her younger siblings. Alice is 24 years old but in a lot of ways is treat younger, as she was an ill child and is still considered delicate and needs to be protected, she is engaged to, and madly in love to an insurance broker called Holden Allen. The youngest sister is 23 year old Mabel, the feisty, sassy one, who wants to do her own thing, in fact she wants to continue her education, she doesn’t want to just be married like her sisters. She says inappropriate things and speaks before she thoroughly thinks things out. The youngest Fortune child is 19yr old Charlie who is super knowledgeable about the Titanic and it’s like a dream come true for him when Titanic ship builder Mr Thomas Andrews takes him on a personal tour of the ship.

Whilst sightseeing and exploring Egypt Alice Fortune is sipping hibiscus tea with Mr Sloper a friend the family have made whilst travelling Europe when she spots a soothsayer. Mr Sloper asks if she has ever had a reading, and would she like one. He waves the soothsayer across to where they are sitting and the man reads her palm and tells her she is in danger every time she travels on the sea. He sees her adrift on the ocean in an open boat. She will lose everything but her own life. That she will be saved but others will not. It certainly upsets Alice and William Sloper quickly tries to laugh it off telling the soothsayer he would be paid more if he gave people good predictions. Mark Fortune hadn’t planned on taking his family on Titanic the Ship of Dreams, but when they decided to travel home a little earlier their reservations were switched to the Titanic.

There is a kind of magic about the Titanic, I guess that’s another reason it was called the ship of dreams. The time on the ship gives each of the Fortune Sisters time to think about their individual futures and if that’s what they really want. Flora is the sister that her parents rely on, she is the sensible, dependable one. She is engaged to be married to a man her parents strongly approve of and think is a good match for her. As the trip goes on the dread she feels about her return, she has received only one letter from her future husband Alice is also engaged, to Holden, who is approved of and considered a good match, she is madly in love with him and they have missed each other whilst the Fortunes have been travelling. They have written many letters to each other, but Alice is also dreading the return home to being tied sown to one place and cossetted. Alice has had a taste of freedom and travel that she doesn’t want to let go of. The other sister on board the Titanic and kind of the reason for the trip is Mabel. Mabel is “involved” with a musician, someone her parents do not approve of, they feel he cannot provide financial stability for their daughter. Mr & Mrs Fortune planned the trip to separate Mabel and her musician, in the hopes she will forget about him, perhaps meet someone else, or change her mind. The irony is Mabel enjoys the fact her parents don’t approve and attempts to use him as leverage, to almost blackmail her father, into accepting her real dream, which is to continue her education. Mabel wants to be a more modern independent woman, not married off and expected to have children. At one point Mr & Mrs Fortune try to suggest a suitable suitor for Mabel who is also on the Titanic, the star tennis player Chess Kinsey. Unbeknownst to them Chess does have his eyes set on one of their daughters but it isn’t Mabel, it’s Flora! I really adored the Flora & Chess dislike to friendship to falling in love. Then the Shock! Horror! Mortification! Embarrassment! when Mrs Fortune catches them kissing! And in public too! Where anyone could see! Chess blames himself for ruining Flora’s reputation in her parent’s eyes and arranges a meeting wither father to put himself forward as a suitable suitor with his own suitable finances & future plans.

So along with the Fortune family drama, there’s the scandal of one young man having his mistress on the Titanic whom he plans to marry but is yet to tell his mother! They finally meet in a lifeboat as the Titanic is sinking. There’s another young man travelling with his mother but setting up poker games, which Alice Fortune ends up being drawn into.
I loved the Fortune family dynamic, they are all always there for each other and even though the three sisters, Flora, Alice and Mabel are sharing a room they each have their secrets they are hiding from the others.

I enjoyed reading how the different characters reacted to the Titanic hitting the iceberg and needing to be prepared to get on a lifeboat. There were those that just blindly believed the Titanic was unsinkable and refused to believe the possibility of it sinking. Then there were those who wanted to retrieve jewellery, pets, luggage and take it in the lifeboats with them!
The saddest stories were of the couples and families being separated because of the women & children only policy although this wasn’t as strictly adhered to by some of the crew. The chaos of losing sight or being separated from family members.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love historical fiction, and I have been reading about the Titanic since I was a tween and Robert Ballard discovered the ship at the bottom of the ocean. That's why I was so looking forward to Sisters of Fortune.

Sadly, I ended up DNF at around 35%. For one thing, there were so many characters introduced early on, it was hard to get them all straight. There was a cast of characters listed at the beginning of the book to help, but having to go back and forth to reference who was who detracted from the story. Because there were so many characters, they all felt kind of flat and not fleshed out.

Also, NOTHING happened in the first third of the book. I have read that the story picks up once the Titanic hits the iceberg, but I wasn't going to trudge through anymore of the book to get to that point. I appreciate the research put into the book because of the intricate details of the Titanic itself, but this was a snore fest and my motto for 2024 is to jettison books that are not enjoyable instead of enduring through all of them just because I received a free copy.

If you like historical women’s fiction with a leisurely pace, this book might be for you. It was too slow for me, and I wasn’t able to connect emotionally with the characters. DNF.

Like a lot of people, I've been fascinated by the Titanic my entire life. I was eager to read Sisters of Fortune and wasn't let down when it appeared. Stories of the Titanic and testimonies of the survivors and the lost always make me wonder about fate and those passengers who canceled last-minute plans to embark on the tragic maiden voyage. Naturally, this is the situation with the Fortune family of Winnipeg, Canada.

This is a Titanic narrative that centers on the notable Canadian passengers. Though they are covered, the wealthy and well-known Americans and Britons are typically the focus, and I found it interesting to hear about the other amazing individuals that aren't often highlighted. There were a few remarkable strong, independent women on board as well. Women started to rebel against traditional roles of marriage and motherhood at the turn of the 20th century, a theme that runs throughout this book. Every Fortune sister is uncertain about what is ahead for her. It is clear that the author performed a great deal of study before penning this exciting, fast-paced narrative of the Titanic's historic first trip from Southampton to the North Atlantic. The ship is portrayed in great detail in this account, and she has never looked better. Fans of the Titanic will enjoy this book. SistersofFortune #NetGalley

4.5/5 stars

This is a favorite series author’s first foray into writing a stand-alone novel. It is based on the true story of the Fortune sisters, three young women, who along with their parents and younger brother, set sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic as the finale of a Grand Tour of Europe.

We are treated to life viewpoints from each sister: Flora, the dutiful and oldest, who is somewhat ambivalently returning home to a fiancé of whom her parents heartily approve; Alice, also engaged but chafing at the bounds of society as she yearns to travel and break free of her cossetted world; and Mabel, the youngest sister, headstrong and spirited, who is determined to explore ideas of suffrage and reform and seeks education rather than conventional marriage and family.

I really loved this story. While based on a true story, I felt Huber did a wonderful job of filling in the gaps of who these women were and what they came to discover about themselves over the course of this ill-fated journey. Each woman felt fully fleshed out to me, and I felt their personalities as distinct and interesting individuals as well as a member of their family unit. While there were a lot of supporting characters to keep track of, through reading previous Huber books (from both her Verity Kent and Lady Darby series), a standout of her planning/writing process is a marked detail to research. I always feel submerged in the time period and the perspectives of the characters at that particular moment in history. Huber is so very good at doing her history homework.

I found this wonderfully engaging and highly recommend it.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the free early arc of Sisters of Fortune for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Too many characters to keep track of and a very slow start. I love Titanic stories and historical fiction but I couldn’t stay engaged and just felt bored so DNF for me

3.5

Most people are familiar with the Titanic and its story - the unsinkable ship which sunk on its maiden voyage in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. Many people are familiar with the story from the James Cameron film, and even if they haven't seen it, they still know the basic facts. This book tells the story of the Fortune family, who were real passengers on the ship when it sank. While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt that it was missing something in order to make it a more compelling read.

The story mainly follows the 3 Fortune sisters, Flora, Mabel, and Alice, as well as one of the sisters' love interests, Chess. While the sisters were real people, Chess was a completely original character to the story, though he does take much inspiration from a real passenger aboard the ship. Most of the novel is spent following the sisters along their travels, from the end of their Grand Tour of Europe to the beginnings of their stay on the ship, to the eventual sinking. I understand setting the scene, but it began to drag a bit for me. The ship doesn't hit the iceberg until the 60% mark, which is a decent way into the book. And while the sinking took a relatively short time in real life (approx. 2 1/2 hours), it almost feels too rushed in the book, with it being done by about the 80% mark. I felt disconnected from the events taking place during the sinking. This could partly be because the Fortune family and everyone they interacted with were first class passengers, so we only get their perspective. What the passengers in first class and the passengers in third class experienced during the sinking are wildly different, though I understand it would have been hard to include third class passenger perspectives without rewriting much of the book. This is not to say that there weren't tragic parts, but more that there wasn't enough time spend exploring more of what was occurring.

I also felt a little let down when reading the afterword and discovering the author made changes to the Fortune sisters' lives. While there isn't a ton of information on them, there were things that were known but were changed anyway. I think I would have preferred the author stick more to the truth about them, though I understand this would have changed a major dynamic of the novel.

I did enjoy many parts though - the descriptions of the ship itself and all the extravagances it featured were really interesting to read, along with the characters seeing and reacting to these things. I also enjoyed knowing that the author included all real people (besides Chess), as I like to stop and read more about the people themselves as I'm going along. It helps me get more into the story. There were also a few things I didn't know about the voyage which I learned while reading, which shows that the author did do research before writing.

This was enjoyable overall, and I think it will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the film and like romantic novels, though those looking for a little more action or substance on this particular subject may not find it as enjoyable.

I enjoy stories such as this, but Huber's story missed the mark for me a bit. There were too many characters, which made it confusing and hard to get invested in any of them. The pace, especially the beginning third of the book, was way too slow. That, along with the fact that the characters were somewhat one dimensional made it a struggle for me to stay engaged. I liked how the author started each chapter with a date and time, which helped establish the overall timeline. While it's apparent the author did her research, the book could've been a bit tighter/shorter, and that may have worked better. Adding in real-life players from the Titanic was a great addition to the story.

When the Fortune sisters board the ill-fated Titanic they are ending a months-long Grand Tour with their parents, brother, and assorted friends from Canada. The sisters each feel they are at a crossroads. Will the eldest sister, Flora, return to a life of safe, but dull respectability? Middle sister Alice has discovered a love for adventure, but what will happen when she tells her fiance? And youngest, Mabel, pushes against expectations, wishing to take life by the horns. For each of them, their choices, and their futures, come into focus when the Titanic hits the iceberg. Things will never be the same for the Fortune family.

“Sisters of Fortune” masterfully blends a triple story line (the three sisters) with the timeline of the Titanic disaster. Anna Lee Huber’s attention to detail about the ship, the ill-fated journey across the Atlantic, and the lives of the first class passengers is impressive. I appreciate that Huber acknowledges and gives sensitive treatment to the trauma that real survivors of the Titanic must have felt.

Be sure to read the author’s note about the origins of this story!

“Sisters of Fortune” is great for those who like historical fiction and tales from the Titanic.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Kensington Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sisters of Fortune
By: Anna Lee Huber

5 Stars

I want to brag on this book. It is an amazing and gorgeous depiction of the Titanic. It was written well, and the descriptions made me feel as if I was there. It follows the three Fortune sisters, Alice, Flora, and Mabel. Each sister has her own set of trials she faces on this epic journey and ship. They soon discover that their lives will never be the same, whether they choose it or not.

You can probably compare this story to any other that you get of the Titanic. The ship, the story, the aftermath, all the same, but in this one, you get so much more feeling combined with drama, romance, and family. It was a story all on its own. It was as much about the Fortunes as it was the ship. It was a very intriguing and heartwarming, as well as heartwrenching, story. I loved everything about it. I loved the sisters, each with their own quirky personality. Feisty Mabel and her big dreams. Alice with her nightly secret. And then Flora, the one who surprised and shocked. The rest of the family as well were fun to follow. I loved all the new characters as well as following some more well-known historical figures.

Overall, I completely loved this story. I loved the history and the writing. I loved it all.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

A striking and beautifully researched story that loans a fresh look to an oft-told story. The lives and loves of the Fortune sisters add a welcome dimension to the iconic passage of the Titanic and humanize the experience with the deft, deep focus on a few well drawn characters. More still, Huber paints a complex look at the financial and social restrictions afforded women of the time period. With a dash of romance and Huber's hallmark of easy, dazzling prose, Sisters of Fortune should lure a new realm of fans who hopefully will follow her to her two concurrent mystery series.

This is so slow, and there are sooo many dang characters to keep track of, so no one stands out. I like the Titantic setting, but it’s not enough to keep my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Anna Lee Huber for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Sisters of Fortune". This is my honest and unpaid review of the book.
I am a big fan of Anna Lee Huber. I have the entire Lady Darby series, have read and enjoyed them all. When I saw this ARC come up on NetGalley I knew I was going to want to read this book! I was in high school when the Titanic movie came out, and thought it was ok, but didn't love it. Gave me some spectacular nightmares for a while though!😂. I was a little hesitant about this book because of that, but I am glad I decided to face it and plunge into this book. It was so wonderful! I love the characters, the author is very good at creating strong women who can be without a man, but doesn't mind if the right one comes along. This book kept along at a good pace, didn't dwell where it didn't need to and wove all of the characters stories together. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Sisters of Fortune is set against the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912 and centres on a real-life family from Winnipeg, Canada. Flora, Alice, and Mabel Fortune are returning home with their parents and brother Charlie after a lengthy Grand Tour. Flora struggles to reconcile herself to her imminent marriage to a fiancé she doesn’t love. She is increasingly charmed by Chess, a famous tennis player, who is immediately smitten with her poise and intelligence. Alice, likewise engaged, adores her fiancé, but is reluctant to exchange the excitement of travel for the restrictions of domesticity and motherhood. Mabel openly befriends educated women to introduce to her father, calculated to convince him a woman can attend university and train in a profession without ruining her chances of marriage.

Taking on such a well-documented subject to produce a fresh, new story requires some courage, and Huber’s success is evident. Her chosen protagonists are from the recorded list of survivors of Lifeboat #10. She incorporates historical fact, but Flora’s shipboard romance is fabricated to suit the narrative. This is a luxurious tale of wealth and distinction with sumptuous description of the Titanic and her distinguished guests, but this by no means diminishes the immensity of the tragedy. Links to time and place are very authentic. The opulence and accumulated wealth aboard ship are sensitively juxtaposed against the lifeboat scenes, the eerie calm, the frigid cold, and the fading cries of the dying. The third-person thoughts and actions of the sisters are not defined by chapters or sections, but interweave fluidly to capture their individuality, so real they jump off the page. Sparkling with a huge cast of mostly real society wealth, the introduction of the characters makes for a slightly slow start. But do hang in for the long haul. You will be richly rewarded.

SISTERS OF FORTUNE tells the little known story of three sisters aboard the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. Most readers are well aware of the outcome, since the event continues to capture public interest after all these years. But as with any piece of fiction based on a historical event, a skillful author will parcel out details and paint the event as accurately as possible, through the eyes of her characters, hoping that we will continue to learn from the past. Ms. Huber adroitly pens the helplessness felt by the passengers and crew as they realized that the impossible was happening.

I absolutely loved the way author Anna Lee Huber fleshed out the little known details of these real-life women from Canada, grabbing my imagination with the what-might-have-been. The lives of these women reflect the attitudes of the time period. Each is at a turning point in their life, grappling with the path that has been set for them. Adding additional depth to the story, Ms. Huber deftly inserts brief mentions of other well-known passengers. I found this to be a wonderful tribute to Titanic's unsung heroes whose stories have never been told.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm always surprised when I find myself turning the pages of a novel set on the Titanic because we all know what's going to happen- but not who will live. I always tell myself, not another one but then then one comes along, as this did, and I read it. And this is a good read. Flora, Alice, and Mabel are wealthy Canadian sisters all at different points in their romantic lives, Then there's Chess Kinsey, a professional tennis player who woos Flora. Each of them has a distinct personality and voice. There are nice Titanic details and good tension. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the Titanic and/or historical fiction.