The Dressmaker

This is a wonderful novel whose main character is Tess Collins, a young British woman who survives the sinking of the Titanic and finds herself having to learn a whole new life in a whole new world. Tess is a wonderful character, and she's surrounded by an interesting group of both historical and fictional personages.

Tess is working as a maid, but her true love and skill lie in dressmaking, and she siezes an opportunity to sail to America with the renowned British designer Lucille Duff Gordon. While on the ship she meets and takes a liking to two very different men: crew member Jim Bonney, and American millionaire Jack Bremerton. Although separated in the sinking, Jim and Tess find each other on the rescue ship, though she fears Jack went town on Titanic.

Worse though, is that Lady Duff Gordon and her husband were on what's being called the "millionaire's lifeboat," and one of the crew on that boat says they were bribed by the Gordons to ignore the screams of people in the water and leave them behind - or worse. New York Times reporter Pinky Wade is all over the story, and Tess is unsure if she's found a friend or if Pinky just views her as a source.

Through it all, Tess learns that she is strong, and that she can make something of herself. And we get a really great story. I honestly couldn't put it down.

The Dressmaker