A very moving and tragic story regarding the sinking of the Lusitania during World War I.
Although a fictional story it is based on fact and has actual character's and events intertwined with fictional characters to bring to life this tragic event.
It deals compassionately with how tragedy effects not only those who are directly involved in it but a nation as a whole.
This is very relevant especially today.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and learnt of historical facts that I was totally unaware of.
It is also a social commentary of the class system of the time and women's place in society and the lengths that some very strong women went to bring about change for the women of today.

I was interested in the character's journeys but was hoping that they would intersect. I was disappointed in the payoff at the end.

Seven Days in May had a strong start. I was fascinated and couldn't wait to see how the story of the doomed Lusitania and her passengers would unfold. However, somewhere in the maritime action my attention dwindled. The concepts of the characters, the love triangle, and the struggles of women's and class rights were all stellar ideas, however, the follow through left something to be desired. The author's note was fascinating though. I was happily surprised to discover the author, Kim Izzo was descended from one was the minor characters.

Such a beautiful historical fiction. Love the story of the Luisitania and the view of being on board intercepting messages from the enemy. This keeps you turning the pages until you can get to the end!

I really enjoyed this book and the story of the sinking of the Luscitania. I felt the main characters were well portrayed and credible. The clear links with relatively recent history kept my interest, particularly the work of Room 40 and of a woman's challenge in this arena. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy. I will have no hesitation in recommending it to my friends as a mixture of romance, history and the background surrounding this unfortunate incident.

Seven Days In May is historical fiction set around the sinking of the Lusitania during WWI as well as the early days of decoding in Great Britain. Two related storylines are kept going simultaneously throughout the novel. Isabel is a young woman who is promoted from secretary to coder and she follows the route of the Lusitania along with the locations of German submarines in her path. The other main storyline revolves around Brooke and Sydney Sinclair, wealthy American females, and Edward Thorpe-Tracey, a titled Englishman who is in danger of losing his ancestral property.

A love triangle develops between Brooke, Sydney, and Edward. When they set sail for England, Edward is engaged to Brooke. Over the course of the trip, Edward falls in love with her suffragette sister, Sydney. The majority of the middle portion of the book revolves around their will they won't they status. The other will they won't they is will Great Britain alert the Lusitania to the danger it is in or will they choose to sacrifice it to pull the United States into the war.

Hopefully, everyone remembers their history and knows that the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine. This turn of events tossed everything up in the air for the main characters occupying the ship. This part of the action kept me reading to find out what would become of them all.

This book was very well written and definitely well researched. I enjoyed it a lot. My one and only criticism is that the middle portion of the book could have been condensed slightly to expedite events. As a character, Brooke, was not fully developed but it didn't hurt the novel any to have left her as a stereotype. Overall this was a truly enjoyable historical fiction novel.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

A good story told alongside true events that added some depth. The back drop of the Second World War, the fight for womens rights, and the tragedy of the last voyage of a doomed ship set the perfect background into which our characters are drawn. They have been written with some depth, no one is perfect and none of them are evil, so the book remains interesting from first to last page. I especially liked the true story of the author's family woven in, which added to the plot and feel of the novel. Excellent, easy read, however not light and fluffy.

Truly interesting story of The Lusitania​'s last voyage, and what happened! This is extremely important for Historical reasons, based on true people who were there. The codebreakers, and the exhausting work they did, and the personal turmoil it takes on the people reading the codes! This Author's GG Grandfather was and is a hero! Fantastic story of romance, wealth, power, and the evil of the German Submarine Officer! I highly recommend today! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

I love novels based on historic events. It is obvious that the author has done her homework for this heartrending story set around the sinking of the Lusitania during World War I. The fictional characters are interwoven seamlessly with the "real" people. The story is told from several points of view: that of Sydney Sinclair, her sister, Brooke, and Edward, Brook's fiancé as well as Isabel, who is in London working in a decoding office for the Admiralty..
The sinking of the Lusitania helped bring the United States into the war, and there was talk that not enough was done to protect the ship from German submarine activity. In any case, there was much loss of life even though there were plenty of lifeboats. The Lusy, as she was called, sank in 18 minutes.
Definitely a great story!

This story of the Lusitania is deeply engaging. Izzo expertly manages to give the reader accurate background into this WWI tragedy while satisfying the essential personal element of those whose lives were affected by the Lusitania. The author has deeply researched the entire event, and real life participants, and it drives the narrative authentically and gracefully. What a great read! It satisfies on so many levels. We know the event, of course, but it becomes engagingly real here. And it is so refreshing to read about the Lusitania from the female perspective. Highly recommended.

I could not put down this historical novel regarding the sinking of the Lusitania and also of Churchill's Room 40. The heroes and heroines in both settings are captivating and the descriptive writing puts the reader within the action. Though we know what the ending is, the author has put her own mark on the suspense and reality of the times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC of Seven Days in May by Kim Izzo in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read lots of historical fiction that takes place on the Titanic or during WWII, but I’ve read very little about the Lusitania and WWI. My knowledge of what happened regarding the Lusitania was sparse, so I enjoyed reading more about what happened to the ship.

The book centers around two stories and four main characters. There’s Isabel Nelson who works in the top secret Room 40, where messages are decoded. Then there are the American Socialites Sydney Sinclair, her sister Brooke, and Brooke’s fiancé who’s a British aristocrat, Edward. Sydney and Edward end up falling in love. What I liked about the Sydney-Brooke-Edward story is that it wasn’t a typical love triangle. Edward and Brooke don’t love each other. They’re marrying each other out of convenience. He needs Brooke’s money to save his home from ruin and she wants a noble title. It was a relief to me that Brooke didn’t end up being a complete villain by putting her ambitions over Sydney’s feelings. Also, in the aftermath of the Lusitania’s sinking, Kim Izzo did a good job of showing the grief different characters experience.

Isabel Nelson was a good way to show the inner workings of the British Admiralty, and how much knowledge they had of U-boats in the same area as the Lusitania. They know of the threats against the Lusitania and yet the higher ups seem to allow it to happen to pull the USA into WWI. I was frustrated when reading those parts because every modern person knows the Lusitania sinks. Isabel knows the Lusitania is in danger, yet the reader knows she cannot and will not be able to do anything to save the people on board.

Seven Days in May is a good read for historical fictions lovers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the disaster at sea during WWI.

Seven Days in May was interesting. I just wish that the author had picked one or two story lines and really explored them in depth. I think that it would made the book better. Thanks to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read about the sinking of the Lusitania that took place as the First World War rages in continental Europe. The author obviously did her research as the details are not something that could be made up. The devastation is terrifying and as I read it I felt as if I were there too experiencing it. The raw survival mode these passengers went into as they grabbed any scrap of the wreckage to stay afloat is simply heartbreaking. There was romance as well but the shipwreck is what captured my attention. Bravo, very well done! I will look forward to reading more by Kim Izzo in the future.
Pub Date 02 May 2017 .
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Seven Days In May. Completely gripping, historically fascinating and the fictional storyline had me hooked. I could not stop reading it and even had to charge my kindle at work to make sure it was ready to go as soon as I was done my shift! I will most definitely be giving it a strong 4.5 stars.

"Seven Days in May" follows two story lines.

The first is the story of New York heiresses Sydney and Brooke Sinclair. Sydney considers herself a modern woman. She is drawn to the Suffrage movement, as well as Margaret Sanger's birth control efforts. Brooke, on the other hand, envisions herself to be an American Princess, and would like to also be a part of the British Aristocracy by marrying a British noble. She becomes engaged to Edward Thorpe-Tracey, a British gentleman who is long on family history and short on cash. The engagement of a wealthy American woman to an impoverished British lord was not a unique phenomenon. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Old World and the New came together in the form of “Dollar Princesses,” a phenomenon that captivated the public’s attention. A Dollar Princess referred to an American heiress, often from newly wealthy families, who married a title-rich but cash-poor British nobleman. And Brooke's engagement quickly becomes THE event of the social season.

The second, and perhaps more interesting story line, is that of Isabel Nelson, a young woman who is escaping a checkered past and moves to London. She finds employment at the British Admiralty as a secretary, in support of the war effort. Though Isabel's secretarial skills are strong, she is soon assigned to "Room 40," a group whose responsibility is deciphering and breaking enemy codes. She has many interactions with Winston Churchill, and finds herself privy to some classified information -- Germany is planning on attacking a civilian luxury cruise ship, namely the Lusitania. Worse, Britain may not stop them, as this attack on American civilians may be the catalyst that brings the US into WW 1.

Meanwhile, Sydney, Brooke and Edward are embarking on their trip back to London, and the wedding that awaits. Naturally, they are boarding the fastest and most luxurious ship out there -- the sparkling gem of the Cunard line, the Lusitania.

The reader, of course, knows what is in store for them. However, I groaned, audibly, when the Sydney traded in her First Class Ticket on the Lusitania for one in Steerage. Seriously?

The two story lines don't come together very well, and Kim Izzo shifts back and forth between them regularly. I felt the plot, especially that of the Sinclair sisters, to be a bit too cliche. And Sydney trading in her ticket for steerage was completely unnecessary, and almost kept me from abandoning the book altogether.

All in all, it had the potential to be a captivating novel, but it missed, both in originality and storytelling skill.

I really liked this book, the time period, characters and setting on the Lusitania all interest me, this book gets 4⭐️ because it's too good to get 3⭐️s. Despite the book being enjoyable and easy to read it does have its problems. The plot was transparent, before the love twist happens I could see it a mile away, the girls lives are simply unbelievable, especially the liberal Sydney's interest in women's rights and vote! Also the end left me feeling a bit cheated given how much you invest in the characters. Despite all that I like it.

The year is 1915. Sydney is a fighter for women's rights in New York. Her sister Brooke is focused on getting married so she will have a title. They inherited fortunes from their father. Brooke gets engaged to Edward Thorpe-Tracey, whose family owns an estate in England. However, the estate is falling apart so his family need a fortune to save it. Edward goes over to New York to escort the sisters to England for the wedding. Meanwhile in London, Isabel works in Room 40, deciphering messages pertaining to the war. She learns that the ship called the Lusitania is now a target for the Germans. But she also finds out that the First Lord Churchill wants to allow a ship with American passengers to be attacked so the Americans will join the war. Isabel is determined to stop this from happening. Just before Edward, Sydney, and Brooke board the Lusitania in New York, everyone sees an ad in the newspaper from the Germans that says the Lusitania is being targeted and warning them not to get on it. Despite this warning, the passengers get on. They all head out on the seven day journey across the Atlantic.

This story followed multiple perspectives: Sydney, Edward, and Isabel. I liked that two sides of the situation were demonstrated, the passengers and the English who were trying to prevent the attack.

All of the characters also had their own problems that they had to deal with as well as facing the problem of a possible attack from the Germans. This reflects the actual war, since everyone faced an imminent threat, but they still had to deal with their own lives.

This story is based on true events. Some of the characters were real people, though the main characters are fictional. I love when authors are able to blend fact and fiction to create a beautiful story. This author also has personal ties to the story which are revealed at the end.

I chose to read this book because I liked The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo. Though this novel is very different from that one because it is historical fiction, I really enjoyed it! I learned about an impactful attack in World War I that I wouldn't have known otherwise.

This review will be posted on my blog May 16, 2017.

Sydney wants to make a difference in her world and the world of women. Her inheritance can be used to bring about this positive change. First though, she must accompany her sister, Brooke and Edward, her sister’s fiancée, on the Lusitania so she can witness her sister’s marriage in England. Brooke wants to live the life of a titled woman and Edward Thorpe-Tracey, Lord Thorpe-Tracey, is about to lose the family estate. That is how Brooke will use her inheritance. England is at war with Germany and warnings of a possible attack have been pushed to the side. Isabel, a young woman who works in the British Admiralty is very concerned that the warnings are going unheeded. As the passengers of the Lusitania look forward to the end of their journey, some on board are hoping the warnings are, indeed, unwarranted and hope to make it safely to England.

History is a very important part of who we are as a global entity, a local community, and as human beings. Izzo has shared part of her family history, as well as a part of the world history in her novel Seven Days in May. Using the account of her great-grandfather’s experience as one of the few survivors of this ill-fated voyage, she gives us a peek at life on board the ship. The atmosphere in the British Admiralty and the attitudes directed at those who worked tirelessly in the code breaking rooms is well written and the antagonistic views perceived by some men and even women is satisfactorily reflected. Characters of Izzo’s story are realistically depicted. The novelization of her family history is finished with a realistic and personally satisfying conclusion. This is a good story to read if you aren’t familiar with the Lusitania and just want a little background. There is romance, glamour and action. A very good book and is excellent reading for teens interested in history.


I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for generously providing an Advanced Reader’s copy for my honest review.

I'll be honest, it took me a few chapters to get into this book. I really thought I would have to move on to a different book. Then somehow I found myself invested in the story. We follow Sidney, who's a suffragette, who finds herself to be the black sheep of her wealthy family. Then you have her older sister, Brooke, who follows the rules and expects herself to find a husband that is an English aristocrat. Which she does and his name is Edward. Together, all three of them, they board the doomed Lusitania. Meanwhile in England, we also follow Isabel. She's working in Room 40, which is a top secret government operation. Its intercepting coded messages through Germany. So Isabel knows what might happen to the Lusitania and is waiting for the British government to step in and save these innocent civilians.

I enjoyed knowing more about this time period. I usually read a lot of WWII books and not much about the first WW. So I found this all to be very interesting. I liked Sidney, I thought she was a good person and deserved better than how her sister treated her. Brooke redeemed herself a little towards the end, but only a little! I thought she was spoiled bitch throughout most of the story. Edward was also okay and was hoping for happiness for him, as well. I also found Lusitania's history very sad. So much could have been prevented! So many lives taken or destroyed all for the sake of America to get involved in the war.

I thought this was well-written and enjoyed spending time with these characters. I like how Kim Izzo wrote the character of her family into the story, too.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.