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Cracks Beneath The Surface: A Titanic Novel
Love. Scandal. Tragedy.
When Maddy weds the wealthy and influential John Jacob Astor IV, she believes she is stepping into a life of privilege, passion, and promise. But beneath the dazzling façade of high society, whispers of scandal, resentment, and betrayal threaten to pull her under. Shunned by New York’s elite for marrying a man nearly three decades her senior, Madeleine soon realizes that love in the gilded age comes at a price.
As the Astors embark on their homeward voyage aboard the RMS Titanic, fate sets a course neither could have foreseen. Amid the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and the ocean stretches endlessly before them—along with the chasm widening in their marriage.
But when disaster strikes, will love, wealth, or power matter in the face of the unthinkable? And when the ice cracks beneath them, will the Astors’ love survive—if they do?
Cracks Beneath the Surface is a sweeping historical romance woven with heartbreak, resilience, and the echoes of a love tested by time, fortune, and fate.
Are you ready to set sail on a journey of passion, peril, and the power of a love that dared to defy the tides of time? Get your copy today and discover the story behind the headlines.
When Maddy weds the wealthy and influential John Jacob Astor IV, she believes she is stepping into a life of privilege, passion, and promise. But beneath the dazzling façade of high society, whispers of scandal, resentment, and betrayal threaten to pull her under. Shunned by New York’s elite for marrying a man nearly three decades her senior, Madeleine soon realizes that love in the gilded age comes at a price.
As the Astors embark on their homeward voyage aboard the RMS Titanic, fate sets a course neither could have foreseen. Amid the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and the ocean stretches endlessly before them—along with the chasm widening in their marriage.
But when disaster strikes, will love, wealth, or power matter in the face of the unthinkable? And when the ice cracks beneath them, will the Astors’ love survive—if they do?
Cracks Beneath the Surface is a sweeping historical romance woven with heartbreak, resilience, and the echoes of a love tested by time, fortune, and fate.
Are you ready to set sail on a journey of passion, peril, and the power of a love that dared to defy the tides of time? Get your copy today and discover the story behind the headlines.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2025
13 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 17, 2025
Beautiful
Thank you to NetGalley and LMC Publications for an Advanced Reader Copy of Titanic: Tales of Love and Loss— Cracks Beneath the Surface by Laura McCrum in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic, but this is the first novel I’ve actually read about it, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But, I really loved this book! It was a quick read, but very well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspectives we got— from a few people in first class, some of their maids, one in second class, and two in third class— it was fascinating to experience the same occurrences or the same day but from wildly different people and viewpoints.
I cried A LOT during the sinking of the ship— the author did an incredible job of writing the terror, grief, and strength that occurred during that horrible night, and I was truly not okay while reading those scenes (but in a good way, like in a necessary way that the people on-board the Titanic deserve).
My only critique is that I actually would’ve been okay with the book being a little longer and giving us a little more insight into each characters’ history and who they are. But we still got to know them and love them, so that’s a small critique for me.
This book is absolutely 5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and LMC Publications for an Advanced Reader Copy of Titanic: Tales of Love and Loss— Cracks Beneath the Surface by Laura McCrum in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic, but this is the first novel I’ve actually read about it, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But, I really loved this book! It was a quick read, but very well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspectives we got— from a few people in first class, some of their maids, one in second class, and two in third class— it was fascinating to experience the same occurrences or the same day but from wildly different people and viewpoints.
I cried A LOT during the sinking of the ship— the author did an incredible job of writing the terror, grief, and strength that occurred during that horrible night, and I was truly not okay while reading those scenes (but in a good way, like in a necessary way that the people on-board the Titanic deserve).
My only critique is that I actually would’ve been okay with the book being a little longer and giving us a little more insight into each characters’ history and who they are. But we still got to know them and love them, so that’s a small critique for me.
This book is absolutely 5 stars from me.
July 5, 2025
Cracks Beneath The Surface. by Laura McCrum is a novel about RMS Titanic. This book was beautifully written from start to finish and I really enjoyed reading it, as I have read so many of these and like many people around the world, I have always been been fascinated by the great unsinkable ship called Titanic.
Maddy weds the wealthy and influential man called John Jacob Astor IV, Now she believes she is stepping into a life of privilege, passion, and promise.. But beneath the dazzling façade of high society, there is whispers of scandal, with lots of resentment, and betrayal which will threaten to pull her under. Now, shunned by New York’s elite for marrying a man nearly three decades her senior, Madeleine soon realises that love in the gilded age comes at a price, and a big price this will be!
As the Astors embark on their homeward voyage aboard the great RMS Titanic, fate sets a course neither could have foreseen, what is going to happen. Amid the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, tensions rise between the passengers and secrets unravel around them. But, as the passengers look into the black sea of night they see that the ocean stretches endlessly before them, along with the chasm widening within their marriage.
Then disaster strikes, the ice cracks beneath them all!. . . . . . . .
The most famous unsinkable ship starts to take in water!! and starts to sink!
Will the Astors’ love survive?
WoW this historical book was amazing and a joy to read.
I would love to listen to the audiobook if there will be one.
This book is a must read. 💙
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Independently Published for my ARC.
Maddy weds the wealthy and influential man called John Jacob Astor IV, Now she believes she is stepping into a life of privilege, passion, and promise.. But beneath the dazzling façade of high society, there is whispers of scandal, with lots of resentment, and betrayal which will threaten to pull her under. Now, shunned by New York’s elite for marrying a man nearly three decades her senior, Madeleine soon realises that love in the gilded age comes at a price, and a big price this will be!
As the Astors embark on their homeward voyage aboard the great RMS Titanic, fate sets a course neither could have foreseen, what is going to happen. Amid the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, tensions rise between the passengers and secrets unravel around them. But, as the passengers look into the black sea of night they see that the ocean stretches endlessly before them, along with the chasm widening within their marriage.
Then disaster strikes, the ice cracks beneath them all!. . . . . . . .
The most famous unsinkable ship starts to take in water!! and starts to sink!
Will the Astors’ love survive?
WoW this historical book was amazing and a joy to read.
I would love to listen to the audiobook if there will be one.
This book is a must read. 💙
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Independently Published for my ARC.
June 5, 2025
I confess...I'll read just about any book about the Titanic, from non-fiction to fiction, well-researched or fluff. Cracks Beneath the Surface is a great addition to Titanic historical novels, covering its departure from Southampton to Cherbourg and, lastly, Queenstown. It's the story of three women, each boarding at one of the ports, each one representing a different social class. This isn't a novel that focuses solely on the wealthy Titanic passengers and the glamor of the first-class accommodations, as many books do. Instead, it's about an unlikely friendship between three young women of different classes who find they have much in common. I enjoyed reading about how the passengers in second-class and third-class spent their days on board the Titanic, since so much attention is often given to the elite passengers. The story strikes a balance between the days before the sinking and the days spent on the Carpathia, ending with the arrival in New York City. The author includes the iceberg as a separate character, briefly charting its progress in the North Atlantic at the end of each chapter. It's a brilliant strategy. I thoroughly enjoyed Cracks Beneath the Surface and look forward to the release of the next book in the series. This one is a winner.
July 27, 2025
Thank you to BookBuzz.net for the advance copy.
Like a lot of people, I'm usually excited when I see a Titanic novel. Who doesn't love the story of the doomed ship, hoping each and every time that something's going to change, that people will survive. I especially jumped at this one, because I've always loved the story of Madeleine Astor and her story.
It took me a while to get into it and continue reading it though. The first handful of chapters with their descriptions and information were reading more like a textbook than a novel, more of a "Tell me" sort of infodump. I wasn't really a fan of the way the relationship between the Astors was portrayed either, by all accounts they adored each other and they just seemed to be frustrated and pissed off at one another a lot of the time. He wasn't treating her well at all, and considering he basically moved mountains to marry her that made me question it.
Regardless, it was still a fairly enjoyable read, and I like how Madeleine and everyone banded together and bonded after the sinking, refusing to be separated.
Like a lot of people, I'm usually excited when I see a Titanic novel. Who doesn't love the story of the doomed ship, hoping each and every time that something's going to change, that people will survive. I especially jumped at this one, because I've always loved the story of Madeleine Astor and her story.
It took me a while to get into it and continue reading it though. The first handful of chapters with their descriptions and information were reading more like a textbook than a novel, more of a "Tell me" sort of infodump. I wasn't really a fan of the way the relationship between the Astors was portrayed either, by all accounts they adored each other and they just seemed to be frustrated and pissed off at one another a lot of the time. He wasn't treating her well at all, and considering he basically moved mountains to marry her that made me question it.
Regardless, it was still a fairly enjoyable read, and I like how Madeleine and everyone banded together and bonded after the sinking, refusing to be separated.
June 9, 2025
Cracks Beneath the Surface drew me in with its elegant, tragic depiction of love on borrowed time. Set against the opulence of the Titanic and the judgmental glare of Gilded Age society, Maddy’s journey from romance to reckoning felt both intimate and epic. I appreciated how the novel didn’t just focus on historical grandeur but also peeled back the layers of emotional vulnerability and sacrifice in a deeply personal way. It reminded me that even the most privileged lives can be shadowed by quiet heartbreak—and I couldn’t put it down.
June 5, 2025
💋 Scandal, steam, and a ship with a serious iceberg problem—what’s not to love?! I devoured Cracks Beneath the Surface like it was a first-class dessert, and lemme tell you, the drama is juicier than a Newport gossip circle. Maddy marrying a rich older man? Check. Society side-eyeing her into oblivion? Double check. Titanic-sized tragedy on deck? You bet your fancy bonnet. If you're into forbidden love, high-society claws, and gut-punch twists—get on board before this ship sails! 🥂🚢❄️
June 21, 2025
I'll read just about anything that has to do with the Titanic and this was just so good! All the scandal, hope, love, sorrow, and everything that goes with the Titanic are a part of this wonderful story. I can't wait to read more by McCrum! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC!!
January 1, 2026
20 stars ***** plus
I never wanted it to end! What a heart wrenching view of the fate and people of the Titanic. The author outdid herself. I was captivated from page one. While we all know the story of the Titanic, stories such as this one is something you just have to read for yourself. I absolutely loved it.
I never wanted it to end! What a heart wrenching view of the fate and people of the Titanic. The author outdid herself. I was captivated from page one. While we all know the story of the Titanic, stories such as this one is something you just have to read for yourself. I absolutely loved it.
June 5, 2025
Gilded Glamour Meets Icy Reality
What starts as a glittering fairytale on the arm of a tycoon unravels into a Titanic-sized tale of scandal, secrets, and a love tested beneath the weight of society and the sea.
What starts as a glittering fairytale on the arm of a tycoon unravels into a Titanic-sized tale of scandal, secrets, and a love tested beneath the weight of society and the sea.
Read
June 10, 2025sweet
This was a sweet love story. Fans of the titanic story should enjoy it. Recommended for those who enjoy love stories.
This was a sweet love story. Fans of the titanic story should enjoy it. Recommended for those who enjoy love stories.
December 1, 2025
As someone who has been obsessed with the Titanic story—and yes, I was absolutely there for the film's premiere as a teen (hello, Leo!)—I am always eager for new interpretations. This book delivered a truly compelling and heartfelt experience, blending meticulously researched history with rich, fictionalized narratives. The author's ability to seamlessly weave fact and fiction is nothing short of amazing.
The story centers around Madeleine "Maddy", returning from her honeymoon with her vastly influential, and much older, husband, John Jacob Astor. Maddy’s struggle to find her footing among the stifling society women of the First Class provides a fascinating and relatable start. I especially loved how the narrative expanded beyond the elite, giving us intimate glimpses into the lives of passengers from all classes—from the First Class socialites and their personal maids, to the aspiring families in Second and Third Class. This panoramic view of the maiden voyage truly captures the ship's opulence and the vibrant tapestry of its passengers' dreams.
The author does a masterful job painting the grandeur and luxury of the Titanic itself, making the eventual tragedy all the more heart-wrenching. While I confess this book moved me to tears, it was a deeply rewarding read. Seeing this singular, catastrophic event unfold through multiple, distinct perspectives was incredibly insightful.
Despite the large ensemble of characters, the author maintains impressive clarity, allowing each voice to shine. My only minor critique is that I was so captivated by the various journeys that I wished the book had been longer, affording us even deeper exploration into some of the supporting characters' fates and backstories.
If you are a historical fiction lover or a Titanic devotee, this book is an absolute must-read. It breathes new life and emotional depth into one of the 20th century's most defining events.
Thank you to NetGalley, Neilsen and the author for the opportunity to read this book. My opinions are honest and my own!
The story centers around Madeleine "Maddy", returning from her honeymoon with her vastly influential, and much older, husband, John Jacob Astor. Maddy’s struggle to find her footing among the stifling society women of the First Class provides a fascinating and relatable start. I especially loved how the narrative expanded beyond the elite, giving us intimate glimpses into the lives of passengers from all classes—from the First Class socialites and their personal maids, to the aspiring families in Second and Third Class. This panoramic view of the maiden voyage truly captures the ship's opulence and the vibrant tapestry of its passengers' dreams.
The author does a masterful job painting the grandeur and luxury of the Titanic itself, making the eventual tragedy all the more heart-wrenching. While I confess this book moved me to tears, it was a deeply rewarding read. Seeing this singular, catastrophic event unfold through multiple, distinct perspectives was incredibly insightful.
Despite the large ensemble of characters, the author maintains impressive clarity, allowing each voice to shine. My only minor critique is that I was so captivated by the various journeys that I wished the book had been longer, affording us even deeper exploration into some of the supporting characters' fates and backstories.
If you are a historical fiction lover or a Titanic devotee, this book is an absolute must-read. It breathes new life and emotional depth into one of the 20th century's most defining events.
Thank you to NetGalley, Neilsen and the author for the opportunity to read this book. My opinions are honest and my own!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews