No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky

Greetings!  Guilty as Charred by Devon Delaney, Left Fur Dead by J. M. Griffin, Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower and Bite Club by Laurien Berenson release on June 25.  A Manor of Dying by Kathleen Bridge is the fourth novel in A Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery series.  It was picked up by a new publisher so the series can continue.  It also comes out on June 25.  

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky takes readers to London, England in 1909.  The McAlister family has been struggling since they lost the head of the family in an accident two years prior.  Edna McAlister went works as a seamstress and lives above the dressmaking shop with three of her children.  The eldest daughter, Laura works as a lady’s maid in Hertfordshire and her wages pay the rent.  When Edna falls ill with pneumonia and is hospitalized, the three children are sent to Grangeford Children’s Home.  Once Laura is notified of the turn of events, she rushes to London.  Retrieving her siblings puts Laura up against an unjust system.  Katie, Garth and Grace are sent across to Canada (known as British Home Children) so they can find homes in the hopes of having a better life.  When Laura learns of their children’s fate, she comes up with a plan in the hopes of reuniting her family. 

 

Andrew Frasier is the heir to Barton in Hertfordshire where Laura worked plus, he is a solicitor working with Mr. Henry Dowd in London.  Henry and Andrew are tasked by the Home Secretary of looking into the child emigration program and providing a detailed report.  Andrew helped Laura return to London when she learned her mother was ill and he found himself intrigued by her.  He did not expect to encounter Laura again in the unlikeliest of places.  Andrew agrees to help Laura with her quest and what he learns will become a part of the investigation.  The two become close friends, but Laura knows they cannot be more, even if she wishes it, since they come from such diverse backgrounds.  They work to locate Laura’s siblings, but it is not as simple as Laura had hoped.  Will Laura be able to reunite her family?  What does God have in store for Andrew, Laura and the rest of the McAlister family?

 

No Ocean Too Wide is the first book in The McAlister Family series.  I found this historical novel to be compelling.  I was drawn into the book and I just wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next to the McAlister family.  I thought No Ocean Too Wide was well-written with interesting characters.  The author’s research is evident in this story which is based on true events.  Laura McAlister has strength, determination, faith and loyalty to her family.  I liked that she learned a few life lessons along the way.  Katie had a strong faith for a fourteen year old girl.  She never failed to pray no matter the circumstances.  Katie never lost faith that God would help her. I found No Ocean Too Wide to be an emotional story that will stay with the you long after you finish it.  I liked that the romance is not the feature of this book.  It plays out gently which suits the characters and their situation.  Christianity is a part of the characters lives.  They seek Him out and are not afraid to share their belief with others or speak of it aloud.  We see in No Ocean Too Wide that God is always with us.  We need to have faith and trust in Him.  We see that there are two sides to every story as with life.  While some people only heard about the good of child emigration, there was a bad side to it as well.  I liked the addition of Rose Carson and Henry Dowd.  They were great additions to this book.  No Ocean Too Wide is a poignant novel that will touch your heart. 

No Ocean Too Wide will be out on June 25.  I am looking forward to reading Gracie and Garth's stories in the rest of The McAlister Family series.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with my review of Mulberry Lane Babies by Rosie Clarke.  May you have a day filled with happiness.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Shine Like the Dawn: A historical, Christian novel by Carrie Turansky

Welcome!  Carrie Turansky is a historical, Christian author who has written the Edwardian Brides series.  Readers can follow her on Amazon and receive emails when she publishes a new book.  Tonya Kappes will be published Mocha and Murder on June 16.  It is the second book in A Killer Coffee Mystery series.  I suggest reading Scene of the Grind (Book One) before it releases.  

Shine Like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky sweeps readers back in time to 1903 Heatherton, England.  In 1899 the Lounsbury family (Daniel, Abigail, Olivia, Maggie, and Violet) are enjoying Olivia’s birthday by taking a picnic across the lake.  They are far into the lake when the boat starts taking on water.  Unable to row the boat back to shore in time, they start swimming to shore.  Unfortunately, only Maggie and Violet make it back alive.  Four years later, Maggie and Violet are living with their Grandmother Hayes above her millinery shop.  Nate Harcourt is returning home to Morningside Manor after a four years absence to see his father before he passes away.  Maggie and Nate used to be good friends before she lost her family.  She has not forgiven him for not being there for her when they died.   Nate inherits his father’s estate and Clifton Engineering Works.  Nate promised his father that he would care for his stepmother, Helen and stepsister, Clare.  Helen, though, does not make this task easy.  Maggie received her father’s journal after his death, but just recently started reading it.  She finds out that someone had reason to harm him and he was threatened shortly before his death.  Could the boat have been sabotaged?  After a fire destroys the millinery, Nate invites Maggie, Violet and Grandmother Hayes to stays at Morningside Manor.  This could be Maggie’s opportunity to find the evidence she needs.  Nate is grateful to spend time with Maggie and, hopefully, repair their old friendship.  Will Nate help Maggie with her quest? 

Shine Like the Dawn is a well-written and researched novel.  Carrie Turanky captured the setting and the historical period.  The author brought the characters to life and gave them real personalities.  We are given characters to love and a couple to dislike.  The book had a good pace, but I thought it was slightly too long.  Shine Like the Dawn captured and held my attention.  The Christian element is light (not preachy).  Maggie had closed her heart to God and let in anger and hurt instead.  She does not understand how God can let good people die and suffer (something I struggle with myself).  One of the main messages in the novel is to let God in to heal your heart and comfort you.  I give Shine Like the Dawn 4 out of 5 stars.  I appreciated the mystery element that was present in the story.  It enhanced the novel.  There are other issues in the story (I could not describe everything in my summary).  Nate learning to run his father’s company, workers wanting to strike, Maggie struggling to forgive Nate (she only knows her side of the story, romance between Nate and Maggie, Violet injuring her leg, the rebuilding of the millinery, and Lilly’s romance with Rob are some of the other storylines.  The novel has a lovely and fulfilling conclusion.  Shine Like the Dawn is a good book for readers who enjoy Christian, historical books (set in the Edwardian period).  This was the first book I have read by Carrie Turansky, and it is not my last.

I hope you found today's review helpful.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Dead and Berried by Peg Cochran on Wednesday. May you have a wonderful Tuesday.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader