American Duchess audiobook

AMERICAN DUCHESS tales the fictional story of Consuelo Vanderbilt. In 1895 Consuelo wed the Duke of Marlborough. This was not a love match; she was already in love with another man. She only went to the altar after being bullied relentlessly by her mother, Alva. The marriage was a business deal— the Vanderbilt money for a title and the prestige that comes with the title. And, it could have all ended there. She could have stayed subdued like many other women in her class. However, Consuelo finds her inner strength, fights for the things she believes in and perhaps she will even find true love?READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Her story was interesting but I felt like there was something missing. I still advise reading it if you love history novels. (Listened via Scribd)

4.5 starsThis novel I happened to see on one of my friend’s Instagram and had immediate book envy! I absolutely love the cover and the novel itself sounded so intriguing!Let me just rave about this cover art for just a moment. The orange hues are incredible and if I was walking thru a bookstore and saw this book, I would instantly grab it. The cover art is elegant and appealing, especially to a reader who loves this era (like me).So, as it happened, I shamelessly begged for a copy of this book because I couldn’t stand the thought of missing out on it. I only have basic knowledge of Consuelo Vanderbilt and was eager to learn more about one of America’s icons.Like many other readers, I think this book fit perfectly in with the most recent royal wedding of Meghan Markel and Prince Harry. I was primed to read something like this book not just because I loved the royal wedding, but I loved the idea of an American marry into British royalty. Plus the turn of the century is one of my favorite periods to read about so this was a book I was primed to love from the start.For me, this was a little more on the fluffy side of historical fiction. There was of course historical facts and references woven into the narrative but the bulk of the story focuses on Consuelo as a person rather than her historical impact which was perfectly fine with me. Because of this, her triumphs and struggles all felt a little more personal to me.I often found myself Googling little events and facts about Consuelo, she led a fascinating life and I couldn’t get enough of her the more that I read this book. I absolutely detested the Duke of Marlborough, or Sunny as many called him. I felt so bad for her and was astonished that she persevered in a less than ideal situation.I read this book much faster than I anticipated because I was completely taken in by the glitz and glamor of the heiress and the Duke. I couldn’t help but stay up reading late into the night. The first person narrative was very fitting for this book and made it enjoyable to read and was fast paced. Like some other reviewers, I wish I had known how many years separated some events in the overall timeline, but in general I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and all things royal!See my full review here

American Duchess brings a story of a remarkable woman, Consuelo Vanderbilt, who came from a privileged life but inspired to find meaning behind “the glitter and the gold.”1893. While vacationing in Europe, Alva Vanderbilt uses her time wisely in Europe by hatching a plan to marry her daughter, Consuelo, to the Duke of Marlborough. While Consuelo dreams of marrying in America to an American, her mother dreams of titles, to be linked with someone serene and high.As a newlywed, Consuelo’s life in England is filled with rules and restrictions, which some are quite new to her, including domestic status among household which was her biggest surprise. She longs for her husband’s sentiment or emotion; instead she is expected to care for his people when she is yet get to know him. And it’s not any easier when her husband is not helpful in this transition, rather judgmental. She finds consolation and meaning in her life by spending time with the villagers and helping those in need. For the first time, she sees that she could make a difference as duchess. With time, she gets truly involved in philanthropy and charity, not simply dispensing funds. She dares to bring in the old ladies to tell their own tales at her social events filled with aristocracy for listeners. I enjoyed the character of Consuelo very much. She was pushed to marry title over love against her wishes. She had her struggles with her mother, but she also appreciated what her mother has done for her and others. She finds love in her second marriage, but it comes with some family challenges. She is a divorcee and a Protestant and he comes from a family of Catholics with strong convictions. I wished the story involved more of Consuelo’s charity work and bringing more dimensions to her character. Nevertheless, it is written engagingly and I enjoyed it in its entirety.

“The beauty here was luring but deceptive.”Consuelo Vanderbilt is a beautiful bride. She is marrying Charles (Sunny) Spencer Churchill, the ninth Duke of Malborough. Their wedding is the event of the year. Behind her veil, Consuelo is shedding tears, but they are not tears of happiness. This is a marriage of convenience, not love: Consuelo will gain the title of Duchess while her new husband will earn the money he needs to fix his indebted Blenheim Palace. With no other choice, Consuelo becomes the Duchess of Malborough and makes up her mind to make the best of her situation. As her marriage is but a shadow of a real marriage, Consuelo focuses on her children and charities. Its not an easy task but the outcome of the journey is worth all the pain.Before Meghan Markle (although that narrative has since taken an interesting but oh-so-incredible turn, at least I think so), there was Consuelo Vanderbilt. Consuelo, at the behest of her mother, marries Sunny and leaves America for England. She is a Duchess now, living in a palace with every comfort and yet that palace and this marriage are her gilded cage. Consuelo never wanted this, her mother did. As she navigates life as a royal, Consuelo learns that not everything that glitters is gold. Still, she manages to make this place home and with the arrival of her children, she learns to fight for what she truly loves. While this book is a slow read, its one that has an incredible story. The pace could have been speed up a bit but I enjoyed the way in which the plot unfolded. Characterization was well done as characters I initially disliked, I could fell sympathy for at the end. Consuelo's development, in particular, I enjoyed. Her process of taking back her life, her journey of empowerment, is truly a testament of strong will. I also quite liked how thw relationship between her and her mother shifted and changed. As I knew nothing about her prior to reading this book, I loved learning about Consuelo. In all honesty, I can not say that I had a hard time putting this book down (that is largely due to the current situation) but its a book that I quite enjoyed.Consuelo was the eldest and only daughter of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Erskine Smith. At the time of her (forced) marriage to Sunny, Consuelo was the richest American heiress to marry into British aristocracy. She was beautiful, charming and well mannered but her biggest allure was the fact that she was worth about $4 billion dollars (in today's currency). Sunny earned 2.5 million dollars by marrying her (about 72.5 million in todays currency). Consuelo was a "Dollar Bride": when an moneyed American married a British aristocrat; an exchange of money for a title. Amidst all this chaos, Consuelo found her voice and used her status to help others. She formed a great friendship with her husband's first cousin, Winston Churchill (even when her marriage was a disaster). Churchill was a frequent visitor at her house. Its widely believed that Consuelo coined the term 'an heir and a spare' after she had her two boys. In the end, she was able to live a life of her choosing. Side note: Oddly enough I already own a copy of A Well Behaved Woman by Therese Fowler, a novel about Consuelo's mother Alva. I am really looking forward to reading that now more as she was a complex character in this book, to say the least.

What kinds of troubles can a young rich American beauty have? Well, young Consuelo Vanderbilt did not want to marry the English Duke her mother handpicked for her. Oh, the horror! She was rich and he had the title, so in the end, she was bullied into it even though she loved another man. Oh boy, the problems the rich have dont seem to be too awful to me but I guess everything is relative. In the end, as the feminist movement gained steamed, Consuelo asserted herself and lived the life she wanted. I enjoyed reading this historical fiction lite. It was easy and entertaining.

I have been fascinated by the Vanderbilts and Blenheim Palace since the first time I visited Britain in the seventies. The American Duchess is entertaining and educational. I found myself searching for information to further my reading experience. I strongly recommend this novel. I enjoyed The Royal Nanny, too and feel historical fiction is Karen Harper's forte. Can’t wait to share this novel.

"American Duchess" is the fascinating story of Consuelo Vanderbilt of the American Vanderbilts (yes, those ones!) who already lives a fairy tale life in the United States as part of one of the storied families of the Gilded Age. When she marries the Duke of Marlborough, her star rises even higher on both sides of the Atlantic. But this rise also feels more like a gilded cage than a gilded opportunity and Consuelo will have to work hard to cut out the life that she desires for herself. Consuelo is a great character and I love that the story was told from her perspective. This really brought me into the story and made me care for Consuelo as a person. I had heard a little bit about her before reading this book but it was great to get more detail about her life. I thought the author did a really good job of balancing detail in the book but I wanted more. I really enjoyed this book. The writing was good but there were definitely places where I wish there would have been some greater detail. It felt like we were only getting a taste of some of the subjects that could have used a little more investigation. This book was still satisfying but I definitely would love to read more about Consuelo in the future!

Harper’s sweeping and engaging story of the life of Consuelo Vanderbilt will draw you in with the first lines. Consuela is forced by her mother, the ambitious Alva Vanderbilt, into a loveless marriage with Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill (known as Sunny to all), this biographical novel spans the dawn of the Gilded-Age to World War II. One of the so-called “Dollar Princesses”, Consuela’s marriage brings a fortune to Sunny for his beloved Blenheim and a title for Consuela to please her social climbing mother. After producing the “heir and a spare” required of her, Consuela turns her attention and fortune to the plight of the poor and especially women and children. Eventually, she leaves her husband and establishes herself as an independently strong woman, first in London and later in France. American Duchess is a well-researched and immersive novel that will appeal to fans of historical and biographical fiction as well as fans of Downton Abbey and the royal family. I highly recommend this enchanting novel!Thank you to edelweiss.plus for the advanced reader’s galley.

I enjoyed this historical fiction story of Consuelo Vanderbilt and we walk in her shoes as she journeys her life, and although being born with the preverbal silver spoon, we see her trials and accomplishments up close through the eyes of the author.Now I’ll admit I did Google Consuelo, and the story follows the time line, only we are with her and her thoughts.What a life this woman lived, and loved how she was able to forgive those who had hurt her, and was always giving to those less fortunate.A don’t miss book for the new year, and your enjoyment!I received this book through Edelweiss and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review

Recently I read a novel about Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and I was excited to learn about this novel about Alva's daughter Consuelo who married a British duke and eventually divorced him. Consuelo was one of several wealthy American heiress to marry into the British aristocracy. However, her marriage was hardly a fairy tale, as Consuelo and her husband initially separated, then divorced after several years of marriage. She did remarry - to a pioneering French pilot - and this novel traces the ups and downs of her life through two world wars, a depression, and numerous family upheavals. She was a fascinating woman and many historical figures make their appearances in this novel. Highly recommended for those interested in Consuelo and this era.

A fascinating fictionalized biography / memoir of Consuelo Vanderbilt, one of many American heiresses who were married to British (and European) aristocrats who slowly, or quickly, going broke in the late nineteenth century.Karen Harper brings to life this charming and strong-willed woman, a woman of money and substance. She makes readers fall in love with Consuelo Vanderbilt through her passion for life and for others. Told in the first person, the reader feels as though Consuelo Vanderbilt is sitting in her parlor telling of her life, her loves, and her desires. Throughout, readers learn about Britain and the lives of the aristocracy from the end of the Victorian era through WWII, particularly the relationship between the land owners and their tenants.There's never a dull moment, never a doubt that Consuelo will fight for what she wants using her money and her wits to do so. This is the perfect book for a grey winter day, for Anglophiles, and for lovers of historical fiction.Another engaging hit for Karen Harper who continues to write history, mystery, and thrillers in Columbus, OH.Here's a short synopsis of the book. Consuelo Vanderbilt was married to the Duke of Marlborough in 1895. She brought a huge dowry, a yearly stipend for herself, and a lifetime stipend for the duke. While the alliance was a financial success, it was not a happy marriage. Consuelo gave this cold, unemotional duke an "heir and a spare" but their relationship didn't warm much. Consuelo's passion for charity, for making the world better for others clashed with the Duke's resulting in more than a decade of separation before a painful divorce. Throughout out it all, Winston Churchill, the Duke's cousin, was Conseulo's friend, a friendship that lasted their entire lives.After the divorce, Consuelo married Jacques Balsan, head of a French Woolen Franchise, a balloon pilot then fighter pilot in WWI and aeronautical-military attache in WWII. They were madly in love and had been since her debut in 1893. He flew while she gave unstintingly to charity and the welfare of children. The love match worth waiting for.

I really enjoyed this book and it provided insight into the the aristocracy: Churchill’s, Marlborough’s and Blenheim Palace and the mixed fortunes of Consuelo Vanderbilt who married the 9th Lord Marlborough and latterly remarried and lived in France during the Nazi occupation.

I really enjoyed this book! I live in NC near the Biltmore House, which Consuelo's uncle built, so that made it even more interesting for me. I recommend this book to see what life was like during "The Gilded Age."

The story is pretty timely with Meghan Markle becoming an American duchess which will draw interest from readers. It will also draw interest because it's well-written and the subject is fascinating.

For fans of Bridgerton, this book is a must read. It is a beautiful modernized version of Consuelo Vanderbilt. This is probably my favorite thing about being a #readhead, is because I literally would have never picked up this book without @jackieoshry and I am so glad I did! Ever since I was younger, I have been horrible at History. It's been too many names, places, and things that I can not remember but if history was taught to me like this, I probably would have passed all my classes with flying colors. I was hooked on this story from the very beginning. The story stayed in line as much as possible with its historical accuracy but was completely modernized when it came to characters thoughts and feelings. Consuelo Vanderbilt was the perfect character to follow. Knowing the Vanderbilt name, I already had a little background information, but she was not such a well known historical figure, that I already had preconceived notions about her. Consuelo was strong and independent, but also knew how to play the social games.