Jenni L. Walsh delivers a delightful dual-time story about two incredible infallible women with a keen ability to survive in “Unsinkable.”
Violet Jessop cares for her family by serving as a cabin stewardess aboard cruise ships. After surviving the Olympic’s near-sinking, she finds herself on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Barely escaping on a lifeboat with an unknown baby in her arms, she goes on to work as a Red Cross nurse before returning to a life on the sea. Surviving two world wars and yet another ship sinking, she truly is an inspiration and unsinkable.
In 1942, Daphne Chaudanson finds herself recruited into the Special Operation Executive agency to aid in Britain’s and France’s war efforts. Secretly the daughter of a famous actor who lost her mother when she was a baby, she finds the skills she’s worked hard to achieve on her own, including the ability to fluently speak a number of languages, aids her in helping to defeat the Germans.
As both women work to stay true to themselves, possibly find love and be an inspiration to others, will their stories strangely become linked?
Walsh does an incredible job of taking the stories of Violet, who actually existed, and Daphne, who was based on a number of real women who helped with the war efforts, and creating a story filled with inspiration, hope and incredible moments. She also fills the story with some great themes, like familial obligation; dealing with duty and responsibility; the concept that we all need to be somebody; having hope or the lack thereof; and finding one’s purpose and identity (“What’s a person to do when faced with great uncertainty and fear? Remember the reason for being.”)
Fans of historical fiction, inspirational stories about strong, brave women and dual-timeline stories will enjoy “Unsinkable.”
Five stars out of five.
Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.