User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Many of us love the historical fiction genre, but feel it is being marred by the amount of romance being thrown into the mix and therefore ruining a type of story that was once alluring and educated us. I am happy to say Surviving Savannah was not one of the aforementioned books. While there is a bit of romance, it does not overwhelm the story that Patti Callahan was trying to tell, that of a devastating sinking of the Pulaski in 1838. Often referred to as the Titanic of the South, this ship afforded luxury to its passengers, many of which were Savannah's very well to do citizens.
The story unfolds as we are introduced to Everly Winthrop, a history professor who along with the fiancé of her best friend just suffered a colossal loss the previous year. As Everly tries to come to terms with death, she is called in to curate a museum that will house the remnants and artifacts found on the bottom of the ocean where the Pulaski went down. Everly is fascinated by both the discovery and the various mysteries that surrounded the people who survived this devastation. Everly concentrates on the women, trying o find out what happened to these courageous and brave souls who lived for days without water and food and strived to survive. Everly realizes that just as in her own life, she is burdened with wreckage that life always carries, these women too, carried wreckage of loss and devastation.
The story was marvelous, not only because of the seamless way Miss Callahan united the past with the present, but also because of the extensive research she did that makes this book quite alluring and fascinating. I always love to read about things I knew nothing of and this ship exploding because a shipmate poured cold water into the boiler filled with stem, was one of one many items that enhanced the telling of this story.
However, this is a story of the women, a story that is well developed and point to their grit and the fortitude to go forward when up against insurmountable odds. This is a story made for lovers of historical fiction. Kudos to Miss Callahan for both this telling of this tragedy and restoring for a time my faith in historical fiction.
Rating: really liked it
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan is a 2021 Berkley publication.
1838-
An exciting voyage on the Pulaski steamship, suddenly turns into a nightmarish tragedy. On board the ship, are Lilly and Augusta, two women trapped by their societal obligations and expectations.
Thrown into a life or death situation, the women come to a point of reckoning… yet only one of them would make it home to Savannah..
One hundred and eighty years later, the discovery of the sunken Pulaski steamship, once dubbed the ‘Titanic of the South’, gives Everly Winthrop, a professor, a chance to curate the Pulaski exhibit for a museum, providing her with a much needed lifeline.
Since the loss of her best friend, Everly's been riddled with guilt, going through the motions of life, unable to pull herself out a deep depression. As a museum curator, Everly dives into the history of the Pulaski- both figuratively and literally.
I loved the premise of this novel and of course the setting. Savannah is such a storied location the city nearly always steals the show.
I have learned, by now, that when dealing with a dual timeline story, the historical elements are the heart and soul of the novel, nearly always overpowering the contemporary elements in terms of depth.
This book is no exception to that rule, although, I felt the historical portions were not as frequent or fleshed out, as I would have liked.
The author obviously did her homework, though, creating a very vivid picture of the ship, the horrifying disaster, and the struggle for survival.
The mystery of the Pulaski is so interesting it easily makes Lilly and Augusta’s part of the story the most heartbreaking, compelling, revealing, and riveting!
That said, it would have been incredibly hard for Everly to compete with that level of intensity, but her research is what helps to bring the history alive in her contemporary setting.
Still, Everly’s emotions were often palpable, beginning with the heaviness of her spirit, then progressing to her slow building excitement about the museum project, which leads to her eventual reawakening to life and living, which was a wonderful transformation to witness. I loved the way the past blended into the present and was a source of inspiration to Everly.
The book also takes a look at how people cope with what comes after, once they've managed to survive something monumental, still living, seemingly by fate, when others do not. It is a thought provoking topic, as not everyone who survives will go on to live productive or exemplary lives.
Overall, this was just the kind of historical fiction I have been craving. I learned something about a historical event I was not familiar with, and the storyline gave me some psychological elements to chew on. It is always nice to feel one has learned something new. It seems to me that the Pulaski steamship doesn't pop up in historical fiction too often- if ever, which is part of the reason it captivated me, I'm sure. I also really liked the characters, and watching them develop as a fascinating, historical mystery unfolded.
Overall, this was an interesting, memorable and lovely story, all around.
4 stars
Rating: really liked it
This book and author - big love. I love Patti Callahan Henry’s contemporary titles, as well as her newer historical fiction titles, and this is a book I’ve been looking forward to since I first heard about it. The Pulaski shipwreck was recently discovered off the North Carolina coast (also called the Graveyard of the Atlantic due to all its hard to navigate barrier islands). I spent my early life in a coastal community where a pier was built near an old steamer shipwreck (the pier was called The Iron Steamer), so this history has always fascinated me. In another life, I am an archaeological diver. 😂
The Pulaski was a luxury steamship called the Titanic of the south. It sank in 1838 but much of what happened has remained a mystery. In the novel, Everly, a history professor, is curating the artifacts discovered from the downed steamer. She immediately becomes enthralled in uncovering the mysteries about the Pulaski (I would be, too!).
Through her research, Everly begins to put together the story of two sisters- one who survived and one who didn’t. As one can imagine, it’s a powerful, emotional, and compelling story. As someone so intrigued by what happened with the Pulaski, I’m grateful Patti Callahan researched and wrote this story. The strong female characters and page-turning storyline made for a riveting read!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Rating: really liked it
“There is tragedy behind, and it trails us and walks alongside us, but still there is the great mystery of life after.’”
The Steamship Pulaski disaster was dubbed ‘the Titanic of its time’ yet most of us have never heard of it. The fight for survival was remarkable, especially given the time period.
Though I enjoyed learning about this event, I thought the delivery was a bit lacking. The present day story seemed to try too hard to mimic the original tragedy with too much time focused there instead of on the past story. Found myself skimming the last part of the book where the story became very repetitive and ‘harpy’. Not sure the dual timeline was needed. Just focusing on the Pulaski would’ve worked better for me. 3.5
Rating: really liked it
Have you heard of the Pulaski,” the titanic of the south“. A steamship that sunk off the coast of North Carolina in 1838, carrying some of the wealthiest residents of Savanna at the time. I know I hadn’t heard of the Pulaski before this book. I love reading a story that introduces me to a piece of history I never knew about before. This is a dual timelime Story bouncing between 1838 and present. The present day story is about Everly. An archaeologists who has been hired to put together the museum exhibit of the Pulaski. The ship always had a special place in the heart of Everly‘s grandfather and in turn hers. The past story alternates between the perspectives of Lily and Augusta. Both ladies are members of the same wealthy Savanna family and are traveling on the Pulaski to spend the summer in New York. Lily is traveling with her husband, her baby, and her nursemaid. She feels trapped by marriage and social expectations. Augusta was traveling with her brother and his family, she is a doting aunt. Augusta is a great confidant to Lily and knows far too much about social expectations.
Both storylines quickly captured my attention. Everly had recently gone through a major tragedy and was still dealing with the aftermath of that. Working on this museum exhibit gave her something to look forward to, but it also made her confront her past. Lily and Augusta’s stories were much more tense. The author did an amazing job of vividly describing the survival scenes in this book. I felt like I was right there in the water with both Augusta and Lily trying to hang on with everything they got. Made me really think about the resilience of the human spirit and the desire to survive. The overall arching theme of the story really was surviving, and surviving the surviving. Focusing on what it is you do with your life after you have survived the surviving. The story also addressed issues such as race, gender, grief, wealth. There is also a mystery and some romance peppered into the book. Another wonderful story from this excellent author.
This book in emojis 🛳 🥂 🤿 🌊 🎟
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars
The Steamship Pulaski traveling from Savannah to Baltimore, exploded 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina on June 14, 1838, claiming two-thirds of her passengers and crew.
Savannah, Georgia. Present day. Everly, history professor, receives an offer to be a consultant for the museum exhibit as the wreck of the steamship Pulaski was found off the coast of North Carolina. It’s about bringing “to life a wreck that has long been ignored, one that changed the history of Savannah, Georgia, when it claimed some of its finest families, when it took both treasure and fortune down with it.”
Savannah, 1838. Lilly Forsyth is one of the eleven members of Savannah’s aristocratic family that boards the ship. Augusta Longstreet is a known survivor and her niece Lilly Forsyth is one of those who is never found. The past story alternates between those two women who relate the efforts for survival.
The strength of the story is in the past story. The present day story holds some interesting pieces of history for ex. Savannah’s history, it “was founded in 1733 as a philanthropic trust. (…) The policy was meant to encourage the creation of a community of working yeomen.” But “their good intentions didn’t last. Slavery was legalized by 1755.” Or “Until 1857 any foreign currency was legal” in the USA as the country “didn’t yet have enough of its own coins.”
As the story begins, a lot of the present day story is consumed by Everly coming to terms with the past, with what happened to her best friend and her feeling responsible for it. It hinders the story and takes away from the interesting part of being a curator and what that entails.
It seems as this is becoming a common theme for dual or triple timeline stories. All timelines in one book carrying the same subject, be it love or a dramatic event. The end result is it becomes too much of that subject in one book.
This story also has some unnecessary repetition as past story unravels and Everly in present day story tries to unravel the same events.
The big issue for me is when one of the dual timelines is set in modern time. I choose historical fiction because I want to be transported to a different time period. In this case, most of the story is set in present day. And the past story, most of it explores the survival efforts after the explosion of the boiler. The past story gives just a glimpse of the lives of Longstreet families before they board the ship and a rushed account of the lives of those who survive. Thus, the story did not transport me to a different time period.
The depiction of desperation for survival, the helplessness and the hopelessness is very well-presented. The prose is smooth and the story has a good pace. My issue is mostly with the book being set for most of the part in modern day.
P.S. Highly recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis by this author.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
"No one spoke a word, each lost in their thoughts of those suffering their last breaths in the arms of an indifferent sea."
I had not even a faint hint of what these pages would hold for me. The sinking of the steamship Pulaski was not even on the horizon of my thoughts. Its historical perspective was nowhere in my experiential background. Oh, but it sits with me now.
Patti Callahan weaves a story here blending true events alongside those of fiction. Callahan begins in Present Day form with a grandfather called "Papa" who spins tales of the sea to his grandchildren. He touches on the sinking of the Pulaski thirty miles off the coast of North Carolina. Little did he know that one of these dear children, Everly, would actually be involved with the true wreckage of the Pulaski after nearly 180 years on the bottom of the sea.
Callahan then reverts back to 1838 in subsequent chapters to the Savannah families making preparations to board that very ship. She familiarizes us with these individuals who come alive within the pages. Callahan has an uncanny talent for allowing us to feel their very fear as the panic and realization sets in. The plight of those onboard instantly wiped away class, station in life, rich and poor, free and enslaved. Fate and tragedy were blind fellows who selected at random.
Everly Winthrop, a Savannah history professor, becomes involved in the restoration of artifacts found near the wreckage. A pocket watch, in particular, catches her eye. Its hands stopped at the very moment of the boiler explosion and was found on the sea floor. Everly wishes to set up a city museum exhibit dedicated to these families and their stories. What follows is a very touching sequence of events in which Everly must deal with her own personal issues magnified by these findings so close to Savannah and its past and present residents.
Although the intention may not have directly been to focus solely on the women in Surviving Savannah, we can't help but walk away with a strong sense of their presence and their fortitude throughout this storyline. Tragedy was at the core of this novel, but, front and center, was also triumph. Patti Callahan leans the story upon us to reflect on the pure lineage that we have all received from the past that fits into the complex mosaic of who we are, personally, today. And that is quite a bundle of thought to sit with.
Rating: really liked it
Ebook/Audiobook sync
….. audiobook read by Patti Callahan, Brittney Pressley, and Catherine Taser
12 hours and 46 minutes
“Once upon a Wardrobe” was such an enjoyable-enchanting-wonder-of-storytelling : a tribute to Narnia and C.S. Lewis….
that I knew I wanted to read another book by Patti Callahan.
I practically gobbled the 12+hour audiobook in one gulp.
Don’t laugh…..
but I had almost forgotten how enjoyable an old-fashion-type-feeling….cuppa-tea-comforting…. dramatic historical-fiction novel…
could be.
The words ‘transported’ ….’swept away’ ….. a wonderful reading excursion …. and a wish to visit Savannah, (I’ve never been but have talked about ‘wishing’ to go ‘for years’ - visualizing going with girlfriends)….enter my wishing- thoughts again.
I REALLY ENJOYED this novel…..
I like how Patti Callahan makes me feel through her writing. ‘Maybe’ nothing special…..but maybe something ‘very’ special….
But ….seriously….GREAT WOMAN’S fiction that I bet a few men would equally enjoy.
I still have my friend, Karen, to thank, for introducing me to this author….
Comfort reading is KINDA NICE!!!!
I had never heard of the *Pulaski* steamship tragedy in 1838….
The boiler exploded. The ship sank. Nearly two-thirds of its passengers died.
Callahan did an excellent job traversing the past and present stories. I relished them both equally.
The tragedy of the Pulaski was truly AWFUL. The rescue wait time was grueling — The storytelling was pretty darn freezing- horrifying- visual ….
And
Learning about the articles and artifacts were fascinating….especially since it took 180 until most of these things showed up.
Visualizing being one of the people on that ship….was more real for me then in the Titanic. (not sure why)….but I think it has something to do with this WONDERFUL ONGOING PANDEMIC LIFESTYLE….ha….we find ourselves still living in….
But…back to this book: (I should be careful — I could always let my mind go wild here - go off topic - when thinking about connecting with our Goodreads community and become a sharing- chatterbox)….
But…back to this book — as I was saying…
Everly Winthrop, (one of the present day prime-narrators — a history professor and highly qualified museum curator was grieving the loss of a best friend) —
Her loss, with added entanglement only increased her self-abusive thinking. Her personal tragedy wasn’t the foremost prominent aspect of this story — but it did make her human…..flaws and all.
It would easy to find faults with her character ….but it was easy for me to be forgiving of them.
I learned a lot …(and it’s always a good sign of a book when we want to visit our friend Google)
…..I read more about the *Pulaski*,
and Charles Lamar, (a real person who survived the explosion)
I enjoyed the the family stories that Grandpa told his grandchildren in the beginning and liked how they linked to the greater purpose of telling the stories about the Pulaski….
….I felt some nostalgia for storytelling with my own children when they were little —
I enjoyed the all characters, (Lilly, Augusta, Everly, etc.), the beauty of city of Savannah itself….
….the historical tragedies and triumphs
This was just. GREAT HISTORICAL NOVEL ….[period!]
…..Right now Patti Callahan has that ‘Comfort-Quality’ going for me. …I’m already reading “Becoming Mrs. Lewis”, now too….
When home is under construction….workers at our house daily …wood hammering sounds….
Basically living with organized chaos day after day…
There is something SOOOOOO nice about snuggling under a blanket …hanging out in the back guest room….reading peacefully —- or listening peacefully — I love both.
A little music for breaks
Drop-in visits with Goodreads….( I adore our friendships)
And
Tea….(always cups of tea)…
4.5…rating up ….for pure gulping-satisfaction
Thanks again Karen!
Rating: really liked it
This book started out very well. I was fascinated by the two storylines. In the first, a modern day history professor is called upon to prepare a museum exhibit for the recently discovered shipwreck Pulaski. She becomes embroiled in the research. The second involves passengers on the Pulaski in 1838. Initially I found both storylines equally interesting. However, as the book wore on into hundreds of pages, I definitely preferred the 1800s storyline.
The contemporary protagonist had so much personal baggage that it became annoying. The author reiterated her issues as though the reader could not absorb them the first dozen times. The historic plot also became overly drawn-out and detailed. Each of these stories would make a decent novel on their own. However, the author packaged the historic shipwreck as a metaphor for the contemporary professor's personal losses and grief. I think this was supposed to be profound. Instead I felt as though the author had beaten me over the head with a philosophy lesson.
It seems the author was trying to tell too many stories in one novel. It was not confusing; it was ponderous. She tied up absolutely everything that could have been considered a loose end in excruciating detail. Apparently she wanted to address every concern book reviewers complain about.
70% of the way through, I wondered when this book would ever end. I started skimming. If you make it to this point, skip to the last chapter. The modern historian gives a speech at the opening of her exhibit which sums up the entire story. Also read the author's note if you are interested in what is fact and what is fiction.
So why did I give this book 3 stars? The beginning of the novel captured my attention. The Shipwreck Pulaski is a fascinating topic. The historic plot is a 4 star story. The contemporary plot deserves two stars at the absolute most. Melding the two should have been done more efficiently. I generously averaged the two numbers.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
The Pulaski Steamboat sank in 1838 off the coast of North Carolina, earning it the moniker of the Southern Titanic. Callahan uses a dual timeline approach to give us the history of the boat and its passengers. For once, I was invested in both timelines.
In the present, Everly is a college professor teaching history. She lost her best friend in a hit and run accident one year earlier. She accepts a job as a guest curator for a small museum in Savannah mounting an exhibit on the sinking of the Pulaski. The Pulaski was the best and newest steamboat in 1838. The passengers were the big families of Savannah, heading north to escape the summer heat. The second story gives us the story of the passengers, especially Lilly Forsyth and Augusta Longstreet.
The main reason I appreciated the present day story is it tackles how to handle history. Do we ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen? Do we tell the stories so people can learn from the uglier aspects? And, of course, mounting a museum exhibit is the perfect background for the discussion.
Callahan seems to have taken a theme from the movie, Titanic. Lilly’s husband is abusive and she is desperate to escape him.
The history is well researched and incorporated into an engrossing story.
Callahan tackles how a horrendous event changes those that survive it, including the reason the Noble Boy became the Red Devil. The book is a reminder that survival doesn’t mean we are destined for some kind of “worthiness”, that everything happens for a reason.
In a bit of serendipity, it turns out Callahan had decided to write this story before the Wreck of the Pulaski was found but it all came together in perfect timing.
And can I say how happy I was that Callahan doesn’t fall into the too often used device of embellishing an historical fiction with unnecessary romance? Yes, there is romance in both storylines, but it doesn’t overtake the story as so often happens.
This was a great story to listen to. No down time, beautifully detailed. Both narrators did fabulous jobs. Highly recommend this one to all fans of historical fiction.
Rating: really liked it
I'm glad I picked up this book. I'm unfamiliar with the history of the Pulaski Steamboat. On her fourth voyage in June 1838, her boiler exploded and she sank after 45 minutes 30 miles off N. Carolina coast travelling from Savannah, Georgia, to Baltimore, Maryland. With this historical piece, I've fallen down another rabbit hole. Marine explorers found the wreck in 2018 as well as gold coins, jewelry and other artifacts that are part of this novel.
The story is told in dual timeline manner; 1838 and present day. I'm fascinated by the historical time and unfortunately, don't feel any connection to Everly's character in modern time. Everly is a history professor and is offered a role with the found treasure exhibition at a museum in Savannah.
Mild spoiler fact vs fiction (view spoiler)
[ One of the 59 survivors, a heroic fourteen year old "Charles Longstreet" became a slave trader. His real name is Charles Augustus Lamar. (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
Spellbinding. Beautifully written with a masterfully crafted plot, Surviving Savannah leaves the reader breathless and marveling at the manner in which the past and present interweave in ways we almost cannot imagine.
Rating: really liked it
Everly Winthrop had grown up hearing about the tragedy of the
Pulaski, a steamship that sunk off the coast of North Carolina in 1838 killing most of its passengers. Most were members of Savannah’s most wealthy families. There were few survivors. To serve as a symbol of all who were lost, a statue was erected of Lily Forsyth, a woman believed to have perished. A painting of the ill-fated vessel still hangs in Everly’s childhood home. As a history teacher, Everly is thrilled when asked to curate an exhibit at the local maritime museum as the wreckage of the ship had been found. She seeks to learn more about the people behind the tragedy and the artifacts that have been buried under the sea set Everly on the road to uncovering their stories. This engaging book shifts from present day to 1838 when we find Lily and her family preparing for their journey. Also on board is Lily’s aunt Augusta Longstreet and her brother Lamar and his wife and children. Only hours after leaving port, the ship explodes. The struggle to survive in the cold waters is told with harrowing realism. There were only two working lifeboats and others tried to stay alive by floating on rafts made from parts of the ship.
The stories of those on the
Pulaski make for a very interesting story including what happened to the survivors. The despicable reality of slavery is addressed and it is heartbreaking. But the story of Evelyn makes this book especially endearing. It is her story that moved me the most. This is a woman who had experienced her own tragedy and has been simply existing ever since. Working on this project helps her decide whether she too has the will to survive and live her life.
Now known as
“The Titanic of the South,” the story of the
Pulaski is true and author Patti Callahan did an excellent job using well-researched facts blended with a fictional story inspired by its history.
I had put this book on the back-burner as other books shouted, “Read me!” a little louder. I’m so glad I decided to finally read it. If you have been thinking about reading
Surviving Savannah, wait no more. It is a captivating book you’re sure to enjoy, especially if historical fiction is your genre.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Rating: really liked it
What fun to do research for a sunken ship.
The Pulaski was finally found after sinking in 1838.
Everly Winthrop was given the task of finding what really happened to The Pulaski.
We also meet Lilly who was on the sunken luxury ship.
SURVIVING SAVANNAH takes us back and forth in time as we learn about Lilly Longstreet’s privileged life and then the terror of trying to save herself, her nursemaid, and her baby. Many wealthy families were on board.
We then move to present day as Everly does the research and deals with issues of her own.
Ms. Callahan included very interesting information from her amazing, thorough research along with her marvelous writing and story line.
The story line flowed well from one time period to the next.
The characters were well developed and ones you will cheer on and love.
I loved learning about Savannah, and about this ship. I had never heard of this event.
SURVIVING SAVANNAH will pull you into the mystery of The Pulaski and have you wanting to know everything uncovered and everything about Savannah.
Historical fiction fans and fans of Savannah will enjoy this book.
A truly addictive read you won't want to put down. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Exquisite! Ten Stars and Best Historical Fiction of 2021.
Movie-worthy. I finished
SURVIVING SAVANNAH in two sittings and speechless! EXTRAORDINARY!! Hands down, the BEST historical fiction I have ever had the opportunity to read!
I knew NYT bestselling author,
Patti Callahan was a master storyteller but this one is her best and a true gem. The best-kept hidden secret. I have had the opportunity of reading all her books. She was truly meant to tell this mesmerizing story, inspired by true events.
The
Pulaski, known as the "Titanic of the South" included Savannah's society, a wealthy family of eleven and some servants, boarded to leave the heat of the South for Maryland. Some with many secrets and shame. The ship was not equipped for a boiler explosion in 1838. How would they survive?
Now, 1
80 years later the wreckage was discovered off the coast of Wilmington, NC. Now Savannah's history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski remains.
However,
Everly has experienced a loss of her own and still grieving. She is obsessed with the lives of those who lost their lives and somehow feels she must seek the answers in order to survive herself.
Her answers may be closer than she could have imagined.From past to present,
SURVIVING SAVANNAH is elegantly written, lyrical, emotional, meticulously researched, and a perfect blending of fact and fiction. Rich in detail, character, and history —a captivating tale, intricately woven of survival, love, and loss with three courageous women you will root for.
"How will we survive the surviving?" What happens when tragedy occurs and your loved one is lost? Gone forever. There are no do-overs. How will you, the "survivor" lead your life? How will you go on? Will it change you in a positive or negative way? The author explores eloquently, different outcomes from the tragedies.
If you
LOVE strong women (both past and present), you will devour this one. Callahan flawlessly captures the essence of her characters as though you experienced every step of their journey firsthand.
Some
highly-charged topics of class, privilege, greed, abuse, and racial injustice —ripped from today's headlines.
Behind the Book with Patti —Interview: HERE
VIDEO (Patti goes behind the scenes).
I fell in LOVE with characters: Augusta, Lily, Priscilla, (especially Everly), Oliver, Henry, and Maddox. Timely, absolutely stunning, and thought-provoking.
Normally with historical fiction, I am drawn more to the past story vs. the present; however, her
dual timelines are equally as compelling! If you are a fan of historical Savannah, the author offers a wealth of information for additional reading.
Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. In SURVIVING SAVANNAH, Patti Callahan has woven a sweeping, captivating tale; of a contemporary woman lost in a fog of grief who finds solace-- and finally, redemption as she uncovers the long-buried secrets of a nearly forgotten shipwreck—and the courageous women who survived to bear witness to history. Based in fact, steeped in heart-breaking detail, SURVIVING SAVANNAH raises the little-known, 180-year-old story of the Southern Titanic to the forefront of American historical fiction.
There is so much to tell and could go on and on. Get this one on your pre-order list now. It is like nothing you will ever read.
A true masterpiece. Highly recommend!
Stay Tuned for Interview: Patti will be the featured author in my upcoming March 2021
An Elevator Ride with the Author Series. I cannot wait for the interview to learn more. A special thank you to the author, #Berkley, and #Netgalley for an advanced reading copy. I also pre-ordered the hardcover and the audiobook.
#JDCMustReadBooks
BONUS: Be sure and check out Patti's website for signed copies, more historical information, and bonus coins.
PS. If you have not read Patti's Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis or her podcast, Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis check it out. Another great historical fiction by the master storyteller.
