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Ghosts of Southampton #0.5
Prelude: A Prequel
An arranged marriage, an abusive family, a dream of freedom in America just out of reach....After Meg Westmoreland’s father mysteriously dies when she’s a small child, her life quickly spirals out of control. Her mother is mean and manipulative, her uncle abusive in a way Meg won’t even speak of. Getting away from them becomes an obsession. When she discovers she’s been promised to a wealthy American, she’ll do whatever she must to flee the only home she’s ever known in Southampton, hoping for a new life in America and a chance to start over, even if it means leaving behind the wealthy, high-society life she’s grown accustomed to.
For most of his life, Charles Ashton has known that his father arranged for him to marry Mary Margaret Westmoreland. Even though the temptations of being young and rich beckon him, he believes in keeping promises. However, his attempts at meeting Mary Margaret are thwarted at every turn, and eventually, Charlie begins to wonder if Mary Margaret even exists at all.
Ultimately, destiny’s plan will be revealed and their worlds will collide aboard a passenger liner named Titanic. Prelude reveals how Meg and Charlie came to find themselves aboard the most famous ship in history and asks the question--can you control your own fate?
Prelude is a prequel to Titanic (Ghosts of Southampton Book 2). While not explicit, this book does mention abuse and may be difficult for some readers.
For most of his life, Charles Ashton has known that his father arranged for him to marry Mary Margaret Westmoreland. Even though the temptations of being young and rich beckon him, he believes in keeping promises. However, his attempts at meeting Mary Margaret are thwarted at every turn, and eventually, Charlie begins to wonder if Mary Margaret even exists at all.
Ultimately, destiny’s plan will be revealed and their worlds will collide aboard a passenger liner named Titanic. Prelude reveals how Meg and Charlie came to find themselves aboard the most famous ship in history and asks the question--can you control your own fate?
Prelude is a prequel to Titanic (Ghosts of Southampton Book 2). While not explicit, this book does mention abuse and may be difficult for some readers.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2017
75 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
I.D. Johnson
80 books57 followersID Johnson wears many hats: mother, wife, editor, tutu maker, and writer, to name a few. Some of her favorite people are the two little girls who often implore that she "watch me!" in the middle of forming finely crafted sentences, that guy who dozes off well before she closes her laptop, and those furry critters at the foot of the bed at night. If she could do anything in the world, she would live in Cinderella's castle and write love stories all day while sipping Dr. Pepper and eating calorie-less Hershey's kisses. For now, she'll stick to her Dallas-area home and spending her days with the characters she's grown to love.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
A young girl is promised to a boy she has never met by her dying father, in order to protect her from her calculating mother and abusive uncle. Over the years the two have sporadically corresponded but never met. As the young woman tries to flee her family and her commitment to the man for America, the young man she is betrothed to is in Southampton, trying to see her. Frustrated, he decides to leave England and end the engagement. At the end of the story, they both find themselves sailing on the RMS Titanic, hoping for new beginnings to their lives.
The story is well told and given that it is a prequel to a story about the Titanic, you know where the characters are going to end up. Meg is a girl of her time, and as such is totally controlled by her mother, but chafes at her dependence. Charlie is an honorable young man with a strong sense of duty. Mildred, Meg’s mother, is a conniving bitch who only cares about herself. The uncle is a drunken, abusive failure.
The story is well paced and a page turner in its own right. The book is short, almost a novella. It was written after the first book in the series was written and published, as the author felt she had to give the backstory of the two main characters, Meg and Charlie. Meg’s story is hard to read at times, given the abuse she suffered, so be warned.
Now on to the voyage on the Titanic.
A young girl is promised to a boy she has never met by her dying father, in order to protect her from her calculating mother and abusive uncle. Over the years the two have sporadically corresponded but never met. As the young woman tries to flee her family and her commitment to the man for America, the young man she is betrothed to is in Southampton, trying to see her. Frustrated, he decides to leave England and end the engagement. At the end of the story, they both find themselves sailing on the RMS Titanic, hoping for new beginnings to their lives.
The story is well told and given that it is a prequel to a story about the Titanic, you know where the characters are going to end up. Meg is a girl of her time, and as such is totally controlled by her mother, but chafes at her dependence. Charlie is an honorable young man with a strong sense of duty. Mildred, Meg’s mother, is a conniving bitch who only cares about herself. The uncle is a drunken, abusive failure.
The story is well paced and a page turner in its own right. The book is short, almost a novella. It was written after the first book in the series was written and published, as the author felt she had to give the backstory of the two main characters, Meg and Charlie. Meg’s story is hard to read at times, given the abuse she suffered, so be warned.
Now on to the voyage on the Titanic.
April 19, 2020
Meg's father has realized that his wife has been trying to get rid of him and has taken steps to protect his young daughter and to arrange for her future. He makes an agreement with a good friend and business associate for Meg to marry the other man's son once they have both come of age. In the event of his death, his will leaves control of his business to Meg's husband, though her uncle will continue to run things until then.
And while Meg's life should have been one of extreme privilege and comfort, unfortunately it was anything but happy. Readers should be warned that Meg is abused by her uncle from a very young age. While this is not graphically depicted in the story, it is clear what has been happening to her and may be a trigger point for some readers. But this is an important plot point in the story and leads to actions taken by the characters in this, and likely the next, book in this series. As such, it cannot be ignored.
As described by the title, this book was the prequel to the novel "Titanic." While it may not be absolutely necessary to read this book to fully understand the story in the next book, I believe it gives us an important insight into the characters' motivations. I believe reading this book will enhance the experience of reading the rest of this series.
And while Meg's life should have been one of extreme privilege and comfort, unfortunately it was anything but happy. Readers should be warned that Meg is abused by her uncle from a very young age. While this is not graphically depicted in the story, it is clear what has been happening to her and may be a trigger point for some readers. But this is an important plot point in the story and leads to actions taken by the characters in this, and likely the next, book in this series. As such, it cannot be ignored.
As described by the title, this book was the prequel to the novel "Titanic." While it may not be absolutely necessary to read this book to fully understand the story in the next book, I believe it gives us an important insight into the characters' motivations. I believe reading this book will enhance the experience of reading the rest of this series.
January 23, 2018
This book came to my attention through Kindle Scout, and I picked up a copy during its free launch. For a start, I wish I had known that systematic paedophilia is its driving theme for most of the narrative. Definitely NOT what I wanted to read about. The author states at the end that this is an uncomfortable read, but it's important to talk about the problem, affecting 1 in 5 girls according to recent stats. I agree completely with the need to address this endemic tragedy, however, devoting a whole book to it, a book presented as historical romance and whose public is likely to be mostly women, is perhaps not the most effective vehicle for this message. Far too many triggers and an unrelieved sense of hopelessness make it unsuitable for anyone who has experienced something similar.
However, having started, I gave the story a chance and felt horror, dismay and sympathy for the young heroine who is victimized from the age of seven. Although the story is gripping, the reader needs to overlook too many unrealistic scenarios. I can't give details without revealing spoilers, but these "what?" moments start with the death of John Ashton, and include everything Meg does once she turns 20, and her mother's ignorance of a vital clause in the will which drives the whole drama. I understand that crisis and danger make for a more interesting plot, but I was dismayed by the cascade of unforced errors that upsets a seemingly pat conclusion, leading to … of course ... Book 2.
The writing style is fluid and accomplished, although the content can be repetitive. There are a few typos, missing words and other grammatical flaws, but not enough to be distracting. What I found annoying is that the main players seemed to behave illogically and out of character in order to create a crisis. Basically, Meg, the young girl at the heart of the story behaves more intelligently as a pre-teen than she does when she finally grows up, getting herself into the most unnecessary predicaments. Also characterization could be deeper, and there is no attempt to delve into the motivations of the “baddies”. Meg is not totally convincing and far too resilient for the amount of abuse received. Charlie is unrealistically patient and incurious. Their actions are simply not believable, and the pace is problematic in that each chapter contains a few choice episodes of the parallel lives of the main protagonists, and then the action skips by months and whole years to the next chapter.
By the halfway point, I started to get impatient, and when I got to the last quarter, I realized that the whole thing was indeed a protracted laying of the ground for the real story, which presumably takes place in another book. I did like the cover, though. Also, where are the ghosts mentioned in the title?
However, having started, I gave the story a chance and felt horror, dismay and sympathy for the young heroine who is victimized from the age of seven. Although the story is gripping, the reader needs to overlook too many unrealistic scenarios. I can't give details without revealing spoilers, but these "what?" moments start with the death of John Ashton, and include everything Meg does once she turns 20, and her mother's ignorance of a vital clause in the will which drives the whole drama. I understand that crisis and danger make for a more interesting plot, but I was dismayed by the cascade of unforced errors that upsets a seemingly pat conclusion, leading to … of course ... Book 2.
The writing style is fluid and accomplished, although the content can be repetitive. There are a few typos, missing words and other grammatical flaws, but not enough to be distracting. What I found annoying is that the main players seemed to behave illogically and out of character in order to create a crisis. Basically, Meg, the young girl at the heart of the story behaves more intelligently as a pre-teen than she does when she finally grows up, getting herself into the most unnecessary predicaments. Also characterization could be deeper, and there is no attempt to delve into the motivations of the “baddies”. Meg is not totally convincing and far too resilient for the amount of abuse received. Charlie is unrealistically patient and incurious. Their actions are simply not believable, and the pace is problematic in that each chapter contains a few choice episodes of the parallel lives of the main protagonists, and then the action skips by months and whole years to the next chapter.
By the halfway point, I started to get impatient, and when I got to the last quarter, I realized that the whole thing was indeed a protracted laying of the ground for the real story, which presumably takes place in another book. I did like the cover, though. Also, where are the ghosts mentioned in the title?
June 17, 2018
Just finished the prelude to Ghosts of Southampton: Titanic. Now Meg will be on the Titanic....
July 11, 2018
Loved this book
March 27, 2020
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved everything about this wonderful book! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I will be reading the next book in this wonderful series!
January 16, 2023
Wonderful story to start with.
Wonderful way to start the story. I liked all the characters and how each one of their stories was explained. Told my sister she must read.
Wonderful way to start the story. I liked all the characters and how each one of their stories was explained. Told my sister she must read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews