No Ocean Too Wide A Novel by Carrie Turansky

It's hard not to read ahead. 1909 England. Excruciating story of a poor family from London. The father had died and the mother got sick. The oldest girl was in service some distance away. When the rent wasn't paid on time and they didn't have enough to eat, the boy tried to steal some bread to feed them and was caught, starting an avalanche of problems. The three were put into a children's home, then sent to Canada, thinking their mother had died and their older sister didn't care. The story is written with great detail and each character comes fully to life. 

Great injustice and bright light shown on the holes in the system of removing children from England. Between the 1860s and the 1930s, more than one hundred eighteen thousand poor and orphaned children were sent to Canada as British Home Children. Much good was done when good people were involved, but so much cruelty took place for many unfortunate children, and no good system was in place to put it in check. This story also tells of two good men who were sent to investigate the system, and how they became involved. And the relationship of Laura, the oldest daughter and Andrew a wealthy lawyer who helped them all. Excellent read that will keep you on edge throughout. If not for the underlying story of God's grace and love, it would be so much harder yet to read. You feel a relationship with each of the characters as their story is brought to light.

"If she found Jesus in the pages of that Bible, she would have a friend who would never leave her side . . . and that was what she needed most for the journey ahead."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#NoOceanTooWide #CarrieTuransky #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun
Amazon
Twitter
Pinterest
BarnesandNoble
ChristianBook

Ladies of Intrigue - 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery by Michelle Griep

Wow! This one is a bit different. Like many others these stories are about strong women. These are a little less " fluffy" though, and not quite as light a read. All good, smart characters with a lot of heart. And quite interesting. It's a book that you don't want to put down!

"Those who leave everything in God’s hand will eventually see God’s hand in everything. . .even in man.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

#LadiesOfIntrigue #MichelleGriep #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Amazon
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun

The Songbird And The Spy by J'Nell Ciesielski

"Claire was to make herself useful on their farm. Or else."

Softly at first, then shock. An American girl in France, studying music, as Germany invades. On a train with a blue eyed man. Which characters as she goes along will be of significance? Where does safety lie? Multi layered identities in a time of war and unprecedented evil. Luckily there ARE good people in the world who will help you, but then there are some who will turn on you too.

Claire is shifted out of her comfort zone and forced to run, and she's a bit sloppy about it. But she lands at a bar with a piano while she tries to find her way out of the country. Michael has more layers to his life and personality than most anyone you'll meet. Ideal for a British SIS agent posing as a German Captain in charge of deciphering communications behind enemy lines.

This expertly told story brings you to the harsh reality of Nazi occupied France, folding you in right from the first few pages. If you've ever seen a movie or learned about that time and place, you'll be like me, tense, waiting for the net to drop any time. Innocent people were forced to do things they never would dream of, were killed, tortured, made slaves. Everything taken, sometimes people too. Very well told, enthralling, a mystery to the end.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#TheSongbirdAndTheSpy #JNellCiesielski #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Powells
Goodreads
BookFun
Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
BookBub