Review & Giveaway: The First Lady and the Rebel by Susan Higginbotham


The First Lady and the Rebel by Susan Higginbotham

Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Sourcebooks Landmark
eBook & Paperback; 400 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


From the celebrated author Susan Higginbotham comes the incredible story of Lincoln's First Lady

A Union's First Lady
As the Civil War cracks the country in two, Mary Lincoln stands beside her husband praying for a swift Northern victory. But as the body count rises, Mary can't help but fear each bloody gain. Because her beloved sister Emily is across party lines, fighting for the South, and Mary is at risk of losing both her country and her family in the tides of a brutal war.

A Confederate Rebel's Wife
Emily Todd Helm has married the love of her life. But when her husband's southern ties pull them into a war neither want to join, she must make a choice. Abandon the family she has built in the South or fight against the sister she has always loved best.

With a country's legacy at stake, how will two sisters shape history?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Chapters | IndieBound

Praise

"Historical fiction at it best: A unique, intimate view of a character we thought we knew. The Civil War comes to life through two sisters on opposite sides, one the first lady of the not-so United States. And through it all, a fascinating family saga. I learned a lot and loved this book." - Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of American Duchess

"Susan Higginbotham's The First Lady and the Rebel is a meticulously researched and powerfully written account of the complicated and compelling relationship between the Todd sisters. Higginbotham's two female protagonists are bonded by blood and love, but pulled apart by war. Set against the sweeping backdrop of our nation's Civil War, this is the tragic and true story of human hearts both fierce and fallible, of deeply mixed loyalties, and of the imperfect but inspiring individuals who were asked to do the unimaginable. Moving and enlightening." - Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Empress

"Susan Higginbotham has done it again-crafted a richly detailed novel that immerses readers in America's Civil War. The First Lady and the Rebel explores the tragic story of a family and a nation torn apart, while shedding light on rarely reported events in the personal life of Abraham Lincoln. Mary Todd Lincoln, the President's wife, and her sister, Emily Todd Helm, are devoted to their husbands and to each other, yet find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict as they face overwhelming grief and loss. The novel presents a devastating time and place rendered so vividly you'll feel as if you'd lived through the war yourself. Higginbotham's painstaking and extensive research is evident from the engaging first chapter to the novel's moving conclusion. For those who like their historical novels based on real people, this book is a must-read." - Amy Belding Brown, author of Flight of the Sparrow

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I pick up a Susan Higginbotham book I know I'm going to learn a lot and be entertained at the same time, which is exactly why I read historical fiction, and in The First Lady and the Rebel we get both in spades.

Of course, the first thing that drew me to reading this book is the absolutely gorgeous cover. I mean, come on....it's an eye-catcher! Then I saw that it was a Higginbotham book AND that it was on Mary Todd and Lincoln, two figures in history that I haven't read about yet. I was fascinated with them both, but especially Lincoln.

The story is told in alternating voices between Mary Todd and her sister, Emily. It was great to learn more about the Todd family as well. There were so many of them! We begin when Mary meets Lincoln and through their courtship and marriage, to when he becomes elected as President, and into the Civil War and beyond.

In a time when families are torn apart by the war, their bonds as sisters are tested when they find themselves on opposite sides. It was very sad to see and to be honest, it seems like the divide is happening again in our country and it's heartbreaking to witness first hand.

I highly recommend The First Lady and the Rebel! The writing is superb, the research excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed my time reading it. I can't wait to see who Higginbotham writes about next!

About the Author

Susan Higginbotham is the author of seven historical novels, including Hanging Mary, The Stolen Crown, and The Queen of Last Hopes. The Traitor’s Wife, her first novel, was the winner of ForeWord Magazine’s 2005 Silver Award for historical fiction and was a Gold Medalist, Historical/Military Fiction, 2008 Independent Publisher Book wards. She writes her own historical fiction blog, History Refreshed. Higginbotham has worked as an editor and an attorney, and lives in Maryland with her family.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, October 1
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, October 2
Review at Faery Tales Are Real
Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All

Thursday, October 3
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Stephanie's Novel Fiction

Friday, October 4
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Saturday, October 5
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, October 7
Review at Hooked on Books
Interview at Reading the Past

Tuesday, October 8
Review at The Lit Bitch

Wednesday, October 9
Review at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, October 10
Review at Unabridged Chick

Friday, October 11
Interview at Unabridged Chick
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, October 12
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, October 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, October 15
Review at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of The First Lady and the Rebel! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on October 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The First Lady and the Rebel


No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 

Passages to the Past
All rights reserved © 2013

Custom Blog Design by Blogger Boutique

Blogger Boutique