I fell in love with this book, it had been a while since I liked a story so much.
Knowing that this is a real story didn't make it any less exciting, I cried in several chapters.
For me the author knew very well how to bring this story to life, she manages to involve you in a way that you don't want to stop reading.
The chapters are short which makes the story go by quickly and makes you want to read more and more.
The author's writing is simple but manages to bring all the necessary emotion.
I think this is definitely one of the best books I've ever read.
I highly recommend it.
It was a wonderful experience reading this book. learning more about the history of the Titanic from another view was very interesting.
I learned a lot from this book about this disaster, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone.
Even though it's a real story, the author manages to make you forget about it without taking the weight of the story in addition to being able to bring a real story without looking like a textbook, if I didn't know about the Titanic I would say that this was a fictional book so well written and done that he was!

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic. I love reading nonfiction accounts, such as A Night to Remember by Walter Lord and A Survivor’s Story by Archibald Gracie.

As a self-proclaimed Titanic “snob,” I am pleased to say that A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice is a great addition to the historical fiction genre. The characters were engaging, even though I was a little confused between the multiple Marys, Kates, and Martins from Ireland. I wondered why the author chose to name her characters that way, but then I learned that the characters in the story were real passengers on the Titanic. That intrigued me and I found myself “cheating” by looking up the names of the real people. ;) There isn’t very much information available about the experiences of those particular passengers but Ms. Connolly created a beautiful, believable story.

What I particularly loved about this book is that the author told not only the story of the Titanic and her passengers, but also the story of the rescuing ship, the Carpathia. I loved the quotes the author included at the beginning of the chapters from historical figures, such as Captain Rostron of the Carpathia. In researching more about him, I felt that the author did a fantastic job in her portrayal of him as a captain and as a man of faith.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice tells the story of what happened on April 12, 1912 from the perspective of the ship and crew who came to the aid of Titanic. The RMS Carpathia was traveling east bound from New York to Liverpool when it received the distress call from the sinking ship. Captain Arthur Rostron wakes up and unfortunately the quick decision to answer the call for help. Unfortunately the Carpathia is over four hours away but, is determined to do whatever it takes to get there.

The story alternates with chapters with the character Kate Connolly. Kate is a third class passenger and is coming to America from Ireland for a new start. As a third class passenger, she is one of the last people to receive instruction after the Titanic hits the iceberg. She and her roommates are ae to board lifeboat number 13, and from the lifeboat she watches the believed unsinkable ship go into the dark abyss. After the sinking she and the other passengers have nothing to do but wait and see if a rescue will actually occur.

I really enjoyed how the chapters alternated between what was happening aboard the Carpathia and what was happening with Kate and the rest of the passengers from Titanic. It felt familiar with the perspective of Kate but also brand new with the perspective of the Carpathia. I'm so glad a book now exist because admittedly the Carpathia has never been a focus of mine when thinking about the Titanic tragedy. Now the story of the Carpathia is even more available to the public as this book is based entirely on its endearing legacy.

This story is so well researched and brought forth so many emotions. The response of the Carpathia and their determination to make it to Titanic's aid and kept me on the edge of my seat. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was captivated by the Carpathia's crew and their passion to get there and help their fellow humans. They really pulled at my heart strings! Kate also had her moments as a passenger and then survivor. Honestly, it's hard for me to express how this story made me feel and made me think - it is something that the reader needs to experience for themselves.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres especially when it is so well researched and is based on an actual event. Following the conclusion, there is a note from the author Rebecca Connolly explaining where she got the influence for A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice and the real life individuals featured in the story. I just wish the characters (in particular Kate) had a little bit more depth to them. I understand why this may not have happened as this is such a plot point/experience driven type story. Regardless, it is a story that held my attention and made me feel all the feels.

Rebecca is an amazing author. Although this book is outside the normal romance novels I would read from her, her talent for character development shines through. She is able to weave an amazing tapestry of fiction and fact into the perfect marriage of a book that readers of all ages will enjoy.

I have always been fascinated by all things Titanic so I was excited to see this book offered for review. First of all, I have to say that the cover of A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice is absolutely beautiful and represents this story so well.

Told from the viewpoints of the captain of the Carpathia, the first ship to come to the aid of the Titanic, and a female passenger of the Titanic, the reader gets to experience what both sides of the tragedy went through. I sensed the anguish and terror that were felt by both. The writer researched this very well and I felt like I was there experiencing it all.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice was an excellent read, especially for anyone interested in the Titanic and what happened on that fateful night of the iceberg crash that sunk the 'unsinkable' ship. It was very interesting getting a different perspective of that night.

4.25 stars. Wow! As common as the story of the Titanic is, not many know about the ship who came to the rescue. I loved that this story was about the Carpathia and it’s captain and really made me feel like I was there experiencing the stress and decisions of navigating that night. It was so beautifully told and I can’t stop thinking about it. I will definitely recommend this book to my book club as I think it’s an important story and one many people would find interesting.

“I have heard that some of you are questioning why you were spared, why you did not perish with so many others, and why the Lord would part families in such a way. I submit to you, my friends, that those are questions that may not have answers in this life. May we remember those we have lost, and take comfort that they are, even now, with the angels above, looking down on us without pain or sorrow.”

This is the remarkable true story of that awful night in 1912, but told from the perspective of the Carpathia, who answered the distress call of the sinking Titanic.

This side of the story isn’t talked about as much as I think it should be-from the point of view of the rescuers.
There were several times while reading this book that I got emotional, I can’t even imagine what these people witnessed and the survivors guilt. There are so many little details I learned that had me in awe of the rescue and the real people who lived to tell their story.

I definitely recommend this to any Titanic lover out there. This book reads more nonfiction so make sure to read the authors note at the end.

"A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice" was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. From its title and cover to its plot, pace and characters, I liked everything about it.

I had read Rebecca Connolly's Regency romances in the past, but this different genre only further proves her talent. It also shows how well she transposes her talent in one genre to another: her understanding of human emotions make a historical event more touching and real.

"A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice" is a historical fiction based on a real event: the Titanic's sinking and the rescue by the Carpathia. It follows two characters: Katie Connolly, a young Irish women on her way to a new life in America on the Titanic, and Arthur Rostron, the Carpathia's captain.

I have read many Titanic fictions in the past, including at least one focused on the Carpathia ("S.O.S. Titanic : Journal de Julia Facchini, 1912", by Christine Féret-Fleury [in French]). Therefore, I didn't learn many new facts. But what I found so special about "A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice" is that it provides such an interesting insight into the Carpathia's captain thoughts and feelings. It is also particularly moving and harrowing because the suffering of the drowning people and survivors is deeply perceptible. Even the reverend's sermon at mass brought tears to my eyes, even thought I'm not religious.

More than Captain Rostron's heroism, I was touched by his humanity and modesty. I loved his saying "We have done nothing heroic, Dean. We have only done what was right" and "Our providential moment in the sea will fade against the tales of each life lost, each lifeboat launched, and each member of the crew who sacrificed himself or herself to the sea". It is true that the Carpathia's crew efforts - and the sacrifice of the Titanic's crew - are sometimes eclipsed by the tragedy or the romantism attached to it by other fictional works. Rebecca Connolly's book thus sheds an important light on what has sometimes been forgotten.

It made me want to Captain Rostron's autobiography "Home from the Sea" (1931).

Thank you Netgalley and Rebecca Connolly for the ARC of this book.

I am fascinated by the history of Titanic and when I saw this ARC available I knew that I had to request it.

Connolly told the story so well and mixed in with different perspectives meant you couldn't help but to feel you had a 360 view of what was happening at the time.

I was captivated at all times and feel this was a great mix of historical fiction mixed with history.

I would recommend this book to anyone fascinated by history and/or the Titanic.

Rebecca Connolly deftly weaves true accounts of the Titanic's voyage, sinking, and rescue into the narratives of two historical figures - a young Irish immigrant aboard the ill-fated ship (Kate Connolly) and the Captain of the rescue vessel, Carpathia (Arthur Rostron). The flow between the narratives was smooth, the quotations from various eyewitnesses at the beginning of each chapter compelling, and the emotional connection I felt to the people involved was strong. This book is a very accessible look into a piece of history that we all know the surface details of, but dove deep enough to develop awe for those valiant seamen and passengers aboard the Carpathia who stepped up and became heroes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Everything linked to the Titanic is interesting to me. Like many people, the events of that night in 1912 fascinate me for some dark reason. That's why I requested this book on Netgalley as soon as I saw it.

It is a pretty original take on the Titanic events, as it focuses on the Carpathia, the first ship to answer the Titanic's distress call, and rescued some of the survivors. I thought it was really interesting, as I never read or saw anything from this perspective, the perspective of the people who could do nothing but hope they would not be too late.

I loved following the various characters, especially the passengers who had friends and family aboard the Titanic. The emotions described and the way people supported each other during the wait felt very real, and it was truly touching to read. Add to this an alternating POV between Carpathia and Titanic, and you get a captivating novel filled with emotions and some kind of solemn atmosphere.

This was only a bit ruined because of the Captain of the Carpathia, Arthur. The author really emphasized his role, and the way he keeps repeating that it will be an event that will be remembered, and how super sad it is, and I think it was a bit too much. The somber mood was already there, there was no need to push it even more. He was a little too dramatic for me and it annoyed me, but not enough to prevent me from absolutely loving this book!

This book followed a completely different story line about the Titanic, which was fascinating to me. I have never put much thought into the ships that came to help after the Titanic sank. But in this story we get to delve into the lives of a few key individuals that were instrumental in saving as many people as they did from that deadly crash.

This one is told in two story lines. Kate on Titanic and Arthur on Carpathia.

Through Kate we get a fairly "typical" look at what the events looked like on the Titanic. While I liked Kate, I didn't enjoy this story line as much, but I understand how it was helpful in keeping the events of the night in the right order.

Arthur Rostron on the Carpathia awakens to a distress call from Titanic and spends the next days doing his best to get the boat he is on to the Titanic, as well as spend the time to relay messages back to shore to family and friends that would have heard of the sinking. The Carpathia was one of many ships out in the area that fateful night. While not close (4 hours), they were still barely within radio reach of the Titanic. Hearing the story of bravery from the ship captain (there was still plenty of ice out there!) was very inspiring.

Again, I really feel like I have a better picture of that fateful night and it was heartbreaking and touching as well. Clean, with an overall uplifting message. Would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book by Rebecca Connolly was one I didn’t want to put down. I loved the way this author used real characters from history and made them jump off the page. The story of the Titanic has always been one that has fascinated me and this book made it seem even more real.

The author picked several characters to have the story line of this one follow. One of them was Captain Arthur Rostron, captain of the Carpathia. I had heard of the Carpathia, and I knew a small bit about her role in the saving of passengers, but this book really showed me so much more. The people who worked on this ship were true heroes, from the captain down to the women who served the meals.

I also loved Kate Connolly. I can not even imagine having been in the position of the passengers on the Titanic when the ship went down. The horror they would have felt, knowing what happened to their friends, and in some cases family.

This is such a touching book. I loved the way the author did it! It is a must read if you enjoy stories about the Titanic.

This is a story that needed to be told, and Ms. Connolly's masterful hand does it justice.
Like many, I have been fascinated by stories of the Titanic. When faced with a tragedy of that magnitude, it is one of the greatest honors we can grant to those lost: to not forget them; to not let their stories fade away. I knew hazily of the Carpathia and its role in the Titanic survivors' rescue, but not much more than that. "A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice" gives a face, a heart, and a soul to that part of the story.
When you read about the Titanic, it's easy to get buried in the sensationalism - in the grit, and in the grime - but not fully appreciate the extraordinary levels of providence witnessed over those initial hours. This story shows us that light - the light that counterbalances those horrific moments of darkness and intense grief. Towards the end, we witness a beautiful exchange that will stick with me for a very long time. "How did we do it, sir?" ... "I can only conclude ... that there was another hand at the helm than mine." Thank you, Ms. Connolly, for bringing this story to us. For personalizing the rescue, for giving faces to those rescued as well as those lost, and for sharing the extraordinary acts of heroism seen throughout the crew of the Carpathia.
Beautiful.
Brief note on content: please do know this story does not hold back from the horrors of that night. You meet kind, genuine people who you then lose a mere 30 pages later. There is loss, there is grief, there are moments where elation gives way to raw anguish. But stick with it -- there is also goodness, and hope, and bravery, and courage. As far as triggers, we do witness death, at-sea burials, intense grief, and a fairly significant amount of survivors' guilt.
Thank you, thank you for sharing this story. I wholeheartedly recommend it to mid-teens and above. Let us not forget this night! Thank you, author and publisher, for granting an advance copy of the title in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

**I've posted to both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, along with Goodreads, Bookbub, and Twitter. I'll update with URLs for the first two mentioned once the reviews have been approved.**

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Yay! As a librarian endlessly fascinated by the events of the Titanic, I gobbled this book whole. We often read about they “why” of the disaster, but not so much about the recovery, the decisions of the captain and crew of the Carpathia, or the third class passengers on board. This book brought back the humanness of the people of titanic. Gone are stats and numbers, or about the terrible losses of the first class passengers. Here we see the humanity in third class, putting a voice to those who’ve been ignored. The Marconi operator and captain of the carpathia take center stage as we learn new things about the recovery efforts and the delivery of survivors to New York. I leaned things I didn’t know. This was a fast read that pulled me in an held me tight. I would recommend this to historical fiction fans and to anyone remotely interested in the titanic. Congratulations!
5*. This review will appear on Goodreads.

If you know me, then you know that Titanic holds a special place in my heart. It began when I was younger and has always perplexed and haunted me. The tragedy of it all saddens me. The stories intrigue me and make me read and research more. Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing, the author and NetGalley for this review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and without a doubt, recommend it to anyone that has a place for Titanic in their hearts.

While the story is fiction, it appears the author has put as much truth into the story as possible, I applaud her for that. I also applaud her for sharing the Carpathia story. I have not read many stories that share the absolute brilliance and humbleness with which the Carpathia acted upon that terrible, terrible night in history, 110 years ago. The selflessness that the Captain, Crew and Guests showed to the Titanic survivors was beautiful. This follows the story of Kate Connolly and the Captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron. I enjoyed the way the story switched between the points of views, a Survivor and a man simply doing what was right.

Rebecca, you absolutely nailed this story and I’m envious of your visit to the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Someday, I hope to be able to visit. I don’t think the museums here in the states could ever do it justice the way Belfast has. This amazing and incredible read is deserving of FIVE stars! Without a doubt, a MUST read!! I will be purchasing the physical copy to display on my Titanic shelf.

I’m also curious, has anyone read anything that has any facts on the Californian ship and why she did not respond to the distress signals that fateful night? By all accounts, she was closer than the Carpathia…

My emotions and imagination were swept away in this informative account of the Carpathia and her crew. Told from the perspective of Captain Rostron, Captain of the Carpathia, and Kate, a passenger from the Titanic, a captivating narrative of the events that occurred that tragic night. I am well versed on the events and tales of the Titanic. However, prior to this book, I had never heard of the Carpathia. Rebecca Connolly brings honor, and perhaps even justice, to the captain and her crew. I was captivated with the experience from Kate’s perspective as she raced to get to a lifeboat and then waited for hours, in the cold dark, listening to the voices, screams, cries of those who did not make it and perished with the Titanic. I was mesmerized by Captian Rostron and his crew. The leadership he demonstrated was phenomenal. The call, the response, the actions…all were miraculous. Amongst the chaos, he provided organization, logic, and compassion. There are so many untold stories from that calamitous night, but this one was done right. Thank you, Rebecca, for honoring all the men and women from that heartbreaking tragedy. I absolutely, most emphatically, recommend this book for all lovers of both fictional and nonfictional historical stories.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Before I read this amazing historical fiction book, the only thing I knew about the Titanic was that it hit an iceberg, sank within a few hours, and more than half of the passengers died. I knew nothing about the ship, the Carpathia, that carried a brave captain and crew who risked their lives racing to rescue those on board the Titanic. One reason I love historical fiction that's based on a true story is I learn so much because of all the research the author puts into their work.

This is a dual point of view story which I love. We have the perspective of Captain Arthur Rostron, the captain of the Carpathia and Kate Connolly, a third-class passenger on board the Titanic. Although the chapters may alternate character point of view, it follows the timeline from when the ships departed from their respective ports, the rescue of the Titanic passengers, and delivering the survivors in New York.

There's no way anyone can read this book and not come away feeling deep sadness for all hundreds of lives lost to the frigid waters and also feel deep admiration for, and amazement of Captain Rostron and his entire crew. This was a man determined to do all he could to help a ship in distress, yet he had no idea what he would find when he got there. Arthur Rostron was a man of deep faith in God and in his crew. A man who would not take credit alone for rescuing 705 lives that would have perished without help from the Carpathia.

This story wouldn't be the same without Kate Connolly's point of view. A young Irish woman headed to America to live with her married sister and start a new life. I can't imagine dancing the night away with new friends, then suddenly be in a crowd of people trying to get off a sinking ship, only to then be adrift in a lifeboat on the Atlantic Ocean amid icebergs, not knowing if another ship was coming to rescue me. I loved how she helped the other rescuees when they were aboard the Carpathia. I loved the stories of those on the Carpathia giving up their beds and clothes to help the Titanic survivors. Such touching stories that showed so much compassion for others. I appreciated the afterword in the book that gives the readers a follow up on the main characters. These were real people who had to go on with their lives after one of the worst tragedies in history.

This book is definitely one of the best reads of 2022 even though we're only a few month into the year. I learned so much I didn't know about this tragic event in history and applaud the author for her dedication in making sure this story was told, and appreciate all the research that went into getting the facts correct. This book is a must read.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Shadow Mountain via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

One of modern history’s greatest tragedies told from a different perspective. I really enjoyed this one! I do appreciate the historical accuracy and emotions weaves into the chapters. I liked reading about the rescue and the events after the Titanic sank so it definitely gave new insight on something that we have heard about for so many years.

Rebecca Connolly is an expert story teller and that fact shone through this book.
The writing was incredibly well researched and impressively empathetic. I loved how the focus was more on the ramifications of the disaster, than it was on the disaster itself.
As a work of historical fiction, Rebecca has stated that all the names are real, and she does an amazing job of helping you feel like them as people and not just names on a page. She uses her amazing story telling to give them fictional moments, but those fictional moments just make the experience as a whole seem that much more real. Your heart breaks and stutters and heals as theirs does.
Her story did what historical fictions ought to do. It made me want to know more; more about the people, more about their moments and more about the rest of their lives.
This book was so hauntingly spectacular while also being a stunning message of hope. The dual perspectives was genius. It allowed the story to represent both the tragedy, told with detail and precision until you think your heart just can't take it anymore. And the sacrifice and goodness of those that came to their rescue.