By Kelly Bridgewater
Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor
British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a
better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household
servants were told they were orphans--but was that the truth?
After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans' home before Laura is notified about her family's unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.
Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?
Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God".
After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans' home before Laura is notified about her family's unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.
Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?
Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God".
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From Goodreads |
My Thoughts:
No Ocean Too Wide
by Carrie Turansky is a chase across the Atlantic Ocean to find family. I heard
about the orphan trains in America with Jody Hedlund's series, The Orphan
Trains, but I didn't know London was sending over orphans to work in Canada
too. The historical aspect backing this story was fascinating. I really liked
the part where Turansky didn't shade away from the harsh realities of what
happened to some of these servants. She was honest and showed the effects on
the children as they laid in a hospital. The plot flowed nicely, moving from
one part of the story to the next. The characters wanted nothing more than to
be together. I liked Laura. The romance between Laura and Alex seemed to move
along nicely, but then Turansky ended the novel with the predictable, yet
slightly unconventional way, for Alex and Laura to earn their
happily-ever-after. I could have done with their romance stringing along a
little longer. Maybe into the next book. Overall, No Ocean Too Wide is an original, yet unpredictable story with four
siblings trying to complete their family again. I really can't wait to return
and see how Grace and Garth come home. Fans of Jody Hedlund's series might want
to pick this series up and compare the two.
I received a complimentary copy of No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky from Waterbrook-Multnomah
Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Purchase No Ocean Too Wide
About the Author:
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From Amazon |
Bestselling Inspirational Romance Author Carrie Turansky
writes historical and contemporary novels and novellas set in England and the
US. She has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion, and the International
Digital Award. Readers say her stories are: "Heartwarming and inspiring! I
couldn't put it down!" . . . "Touching love story. It captured me
from the first page! Rich characters, beautifully written" . . . "My
new favorite author!" Visit her website and sign up for her email
newsletter at Carrie Turansky.com. Follow Carrie on Facebook, Pinterest, and
Instagram. (Taken from Amazon.)
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