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America Gilt: Absinthe
“American Gilt – Absinthe (Vol 2) Now with 7.5 Million pages read on Kindle! Find out why ‘The American Gilt Trilogy’ is an Amazon Best Seller in "Biographies" ‘Gilded Age Historical Romance’, ‘U.S. Historical’ and ‘Coming of Age’ categories. This historical biography is based on the true story of Gilded Age débutante Sara Swan Whiting, a favorite of Mrs. Astor’s – and the scandal that ensued from her marriage to socialite Oliver H.P. Belmont. But how much is truth and how much is propaganda generated by rumors and the newspapers?
Book 2 begins in Paris, 1883 – The new year finds Oliver and Sara enjoying their honeymoon on the Champs-Élysées. While over-indulging in absinthe Oliver begins to show telltale signs of alcoholism causeing uncharacteristic mood changes, making him quarrelsome and temperamental. Sara grows frightened, realizing there is a darker side to her groom.
In “Absinthe”, book two of the AMERICAN GILT TRILOGY, readers are transported through time to the beauty and confines of propriety during America’s gilded age. With information gathered from family letters, historical newspapers, books and personal interviews, J. D. Peterson skillfully weaves a tale based on the true account of the Belmont-Whiting Scandal of 1883.
What readers are saying: “This was the best gilded age novel I have read in such a long time." – Ted M. "I literally could not put this book down! I felt like I’d been transported to another time." – Amy H. “You will get hooked”!
Book 2 begins in Paris, 1883 – The new year finds Oliver and Sara enjoying their honeymoon on the Champs-Élysées. While over-indulging in absinthe Oliver begins to show telltale signs of alcoholism causeing uncharacteristic mood changes, making him quarrelsome and temperamental. Sara grows frightened, realizing there is a darker side to her groom.
In “Absinthe”, book two of the AMERICAN GILT TRILOGY, readers are transported through time to the beauty and confines of propriety during America’s gilded age. With information gathered from family letters, historical newspapers, books and personal interviews, J. D. Peterson skillfully weaves a tale based on the true account of the Belmont-Whiting Scandal of 1883.
What readers are saying: “This was the best gilded age novel I have read in such a long time." – Ted M. "I literally could not put this book down! I felt like I’d been transported to another time." – Amy H. “You will get hooked”!
268 pages, Paperback
Published September 6, 2016
390 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 16, 2023
I still hate both Oliver and Sara. Now I want to also throw her mother off a cliff. What kind of psycho wants to go on their child’s honeymoon?
I don’t care if it was a tradition, it was a creepy one.
And this in no way excuses Oliver’s abusive behavior.
I don’t care if it was a tradition, it was a creepy one.
And this in no way excuses Oliver’s abusive behavior.
February 28, 2023
Worth reading
I love historical fiction. This series allows us to have a glimps into the lives of high society women in the days when divorce made a woman a social outcast and cast a shadow over the lives of their children. The novel reflects on the difference made between men and women I.e. what was acceptable for women & what women were expected to endure from the men who ruled their lives just a short while ago. Let us hope that we do not allow a return to those standards!
I love historical fiction. This series allows us to have a glimps into the lives of high society women in the days when divorce made a woman a social outcast and cast a shadow over the lives of their children. The novel reflects on the difference made between men and women I.e. what was acceptable for women & what women were expected to endure from the men who ruled their lives just a short while ago. Let us hope that we do not allow a return to those standards!
January 17, 2025
great history
A lot of interesting facts about the guilty age and about the families that were involved.
Personally, I wasn’t that interested in all of the chitchat that went on in the book between everyone.
A lot of interesting facts about the guilty age and about the families that were involved.
Personally, I wasn’t that interested in all of the chitchat that went on in the book between everyone.
December 30, 2025
binge read in a weekend
Love the series! The character stories are so accurate to the Belmont and Whitig histories.
Once I started this one I couldn’t wait to finish and move on to the next book in the series.
Love the series! The character stories are so accurate to the Belmont and Whitig histories.
Once I started this one I couldn’t wait to finish and move on to the next book in the series.
August 8, 2024
Second part of the trilogy. Could not put it down!
December 31, 2016
American Gilt: Absinthe is a continuation of the real life story of Gilded Age heiress Sara Swan Whiting. The train wreck of a marriage that one could see coming in American Gilt: Debut turns out to be even worse than expected. What does a young society matron do when caught in an abusive marriage in an age when wives are expected to stoically accept any bad behavior on the part of their husbands? Absinthe exposes the ugly side of late 19th century upper class society, where hypocrisy and double standards reigned.
September 15, 2022
Book 2 Swan vs Belmont
It's just interesting that this scandal is truth. Complete with sex, alcohol, possible drugs, and although not rock n roll, loads of balls. Why would a parent think it's okay to go on ab adult child's honeymoon is beyond me. And as long as they're coming along go ahead and bring the whole family. Good grief! Not as rich with details as first book but still legit me interested.
It's just interesting that this scandal is truth. Complete with sex, alcohol, possible drugs, and although not rock n roll, loads of balls. Why would a parent think it's okay to go on ab adult child's honeymoon is beyond me. And as long as they're coming along go ahead and bring the whole family. Good grief! Not as rich with details as first book but still legit me interested.
July 18, 2023
Jean38no
Wow this. Second book is great . I hoped , signed and cried for Sara and her child. I wish only that her family had not intruded into the honeymoon . Oliver was very immature. Sometimes it takes some men longer to accept responsibility for a family . But if left with his family I think he would have turned a corner. The mother in law and his parents should had stayed out of it.
Wow this. Second book is great . I hoped , signed and cried for Sara and her child. I wish only that her family had not intruded into the honeymoon . Oliver was very immature. Sometimes it takes some men longer to accept responsibility for a family . But if left with his family I think he would have turned a corner. The mother in law and his parents should had stayed out of it.
June 24, 2023
Continuing story
I didn't know after reading the first book there were others. The book is good and reads very fast. Sara was warned against marriage to Oliver and he has in fact turned out to be not a gentleman. I don't believe she is entirely blameless, parents on a honeymoon, he had a point. Can't wait to read book three and hear the rest of the story.
I didn't know after reading the first book there were others. The book is good and reads very fast. Sara was warned against marriage to Oliver and he has in fact turned out to be not a gentleman. I don't believe she is entirely blameless, parents on a honeymoon, he had a point. Can't wait to read book three and hear the rest of the story.
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November 14, 2023American Gilt: Absinthe
I didn't realize when I started the first book that this was a historical fiction series. It's hard to imagine all the rules and restrictions Society placed on people and how undermining it could all be. I look forward to reading the 3rd book of this series to see what happens!
I didn't realize when I started the first book that this was a historical fiction series. It's hard to imagine all the rules and restrictions Society placed on people and how undermining it could all be. I look forward to reading the 3rd book of this series to see what happens!
February 21, 2024
This is a very detailed, well written look into the life of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and Oliver Belmont for anyone interested in the Gilded Age. Of course this is historical fiction but definitely based on many facts known about both of them. I really enjoyed this series of three books.
January 2, 2017
I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion
March 10, 2020
Second book in the series of three books. Historical fiction.
January 16, 2022
Oliver is a d**k!
These books are blowing my mind! I’ve never read historical gilt age fiction and I can’t wait to read the last book in this series.
These books are blowing my mind! I’ve never read historical gilt age fiction and I can’t wait to read the last book in this series.
April 22, 2023
Awesome on to the final book 3!!!
June 29, 2023
Great series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews