Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.

Review:

In my childhood, I have a strong memory of my great-grandmother telling me stories of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906,  She was sixteen years old.  She told me of her and her family standing on a hill and watching the city, and their home, burn.  They then fled on a boat to Oakland, California to rebuild their lives.  So every time I hear of a book with the earthquake as it's backdrop, I can't help but be drawn to it.  Add one of my favorite authors, Susan Meissner, as the writer, and I was eager to read this book.  I wasn't disappointed.  This book had load of historical details of San Francisco at that time, characters I loved, and a story with many twists and turns.  I loved this book.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

I loved all the details of San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century.  From the wonders of San Francisco's new cable car systems, to the prosperity of the shops and neighborhoods, this time period came alive to me, the reader.

And as someone who has lived in the Bay Area for over twenty years, I can attest to all the details of the in San Francisco.  From the massive hills, to the chilly fog, and the sprawling nature of Golden Gate Park, all the physical details were completely accurate.

Details of the 1906 Earthquake:

As scary as it was, I appreciated all the details of the quake itself.  The author goes to great lengths to show how the quake felt (one small jolt, followed by an almost minute-long shaking).  The aftermath is what is truly interesting.  Most of the displaced people gathered in Golden Gate Park, spending that first night cold, hungry, and terrified, as aftershocks rocked their nerves raw.  When daylight broke, the U.S. Army took over and organized tents, food, and other logistics that brought order to the chaos.

Characters:

Sophie was a character I could root for.  An immigrant from Ireland, Sophie knew hardship and yearned for security and comfort.  When she agrees to be a mail order bride and stepmother to a widower and his young child, it makes perfect sense.  I loved how Sophie bonded with the little girl, Kat, and did whatever she could to protect her.  I also liked that she doesn't instantly fall in love with her husband, Martin.  Part of this was because she was naturally cautious.  But she also had suspicions about Martin.  He seemed very aloof towards his daughter, and leaves mysteriously for days at a time.  What was he up to?  I would say more, but I don't want to spoil any of the plot.

There were several other female characters who show how easily it was, in the days of limited communication, to be duped by others.  But, even though they were victims, they also were survivors.  These characters were not undone by being taken advantage others.  Instead, they grew stronger.  I really admired that.

Story:

The story of a con man and how he dupes women takes many twists and turns, all with the backdrop of the great earthquake of 1906.  This could have been a story set in almost any time period.  But having it happen at that time, adds a layer of significance.  Sophie finds a colossal secret about her husband that changes her life, just as the earthquake hits.  The symbolism is obvious, and it works.  As her world shifts, so does San Francisco.  As the Bay Area rebuilds, so does Sophie find a way to rebuild her life.  The earthquake is the perfect metaphor.

Rating: 

Release Date:  February 2nd, 2021

Author:  Susan Meissner

Publisher:  Berkley Books

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  Filled with details of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, this story has complex characters and a story with surprising twists. 
Another solid historical fiction from author Susan Meissner.