Review of "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" by Tricia Goyer

Summary from Barbour Publishing: Remember the Titanic 100 years after its doomed voyage with Tricia Goyer’s fictional portrayal of one woman’s journey. To Amelia Gladstone, this ship means promise of seeing family again. To Quentin Walpole, the Titanic represents a new start in America…if he can get onboard. All seems lost until Amelia offers him a ticket, securing his passage—and bringing him face-to-face with his railroad tycoon father and older brother, Damian. As Amelia works to reconcile father and son, she finds herself the object of both brothers’ affection. Can she choose between two brothers? Or will she lose everything to the icy waters of the Atlantic?

Review: When the Titanic set sail 100 years ago no one knew that the grand ship's legacy would turn tragic.  The story has been repeated so often over the years that most of us know the facts by heart.  By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer is the second fictionalized account of the Titanic that I have read in the last month.  I loved Goyer's descriptions of the ship from the finest rooms of first class to the staff quarters.  Amelia's association with characters of three different stations - the first class Damian Walpole, the second class Quentin Walpole, and a stewardess - take her to all levels of the ship during her four day voyage. Most of the plot is set in the first and second classes, and I could picture the grandeur and stateliness of what was an unparalleled vessel.  The cameo appearances of real-life passengers, John Jacob Astor and Margaret Brown added an extra layer of authenticity to the story.

The Titanic sinks near the end of the novel; and while I enjoyed the plot, characters, and historical details, there was the element of predictability. I initially expected the story to focus partially on the Titanic voyage and partially on life after the tragedy.  I felt a sense of foreboding knowing the inevitable event that was going to occur and wondering what the outcome would be for the characters that were introduced.  The back stories of Amelia and Quentin provided more depth and interest to the story.  Amelia finds herself in somewhat of a love triangle between her potential suitor in America, Quentin, and his brother Damian.  The question that lingers is who will capture her heart and who will survive the ship's sinking?  The answer is bittersweet with heartwarming tones of love and sacrifice.

Tricia Goyer pays homage to the Titanic in By the Light of the Silvery Moon and preserves a bit of its history.  There are so many real stories of Titanic passengers that we will never know, and reading a well-written and researched fictionalized account gives us insight into an event that should not be forgotten.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley, courtesy of Barbour Publishing.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”