Meet the British home children. Mostly poor orphans on Britain’s streets who were shipped across the ocean to Canada to work as indentured servants.
Take a trip alongside Laura who will do anything to try and locate her three younger siblings in Canada and bring them home to their heartbroken mother.
Andrew, along with his boss, Henry, seek to shed light on the situation for the Crown. Are the children cared for properly or not? Just how does the system work once was you are in it?
A fascinating read of some unknown and/or forgotten history. I look forward to the next book to continue the story.

No Ocean Too Wide is a beautiful story of love and family. The story, inspired from a real time in human history where children were taken from London and sent to Canada with the twofold goal of ridding London from "undesirable" orphans off the street and helping Canada to build up it's own population as the country expands and grows. Unfortunately the good intentions are overshadowed by the poor system that was hastily put into place with no thought for oversight or accountability. This causes many children to slip through the cracks and forced to endure a life more brutal than they could have imagined. This fictional novel is about one family torn apart by an illness, some misunderstandings and a lack of communication and accountability that eventually leads the older sibling Laura on a trip across two worlds to try and reunite her family and undo the wrongs that had been done to their family. The plot line is moving and emotional. The characters are vivid and bold. Great story!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

Delightful and heartbreaking at the same time. It felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster, and since it’s the start of at least a duology, I know the ride hasn’t stopped yet. I didn’t know anything about British Home Children prior to reading this book. What brave souls! My heart goes out to the ones who suffered ridicule, abuse, and being ripped from their families.

The writing style was refreshing and sweet. That’s what I’ve come to expect from Mrs. Turansky, and it’s one of the things I most look forward to when I pick up one of her novels. No matter what subject, plot, or themes are involved, I know I’m in for a sweet-laced tale that features characters I can easily root for.

In the first half of the story, I wasn’t sure who was supposed to be the lead. The back-cover copy indicated it should be Laura, but Katie seemed to be more the focus. The back half definitely felt like Laura’s, and I was delighted to get to know her better then. Both girls were great characters to feature, though Katie often seemed about five years younger than her fourteen years. On that note, the children on the cover are much too young, as they are supposed to represent a pair of fourteen-year-old twins.

Overall, this was a wonderful book with a fascinating topic that hasn’t been showcased much in fiction (British Home Children). I enjoyed the time I spent in this novel, and I’m eager for the next installment.

Such a decades-long movement, and such a hard life for thousands of children, this book focuses on children shipped off to other countries, in particular Canada. A good historical story that I can see going over well for those that are jumping on the trend of popular historical fiction novels.

No Ocean Too Wide was amazing. While I can't give a long review to this, and it wasn't quite up my typical scope of books that I read, I enjoyed it and believe that anyone that loves books like this would fall in love and want more.

When I first read the description of No Ocean Too Wide, I was intrigued. Of course, I have read several stories about the Orphan Trains in the United States, but I didn't know anything about orphans being sent from England to other countries. Learning about that made the book appeal to me.
The twins, Katie and Garth, and their little sister Grace, lived with their widowed mother in London, while their older sister Laura worked as a maid some distance away. The family was able to survive—until Mum got sick and Garth was caught stealing a loaf of bread. Then, disaster struck and the family was separated. Though the children were in neighboring orphan homes, Garth was allowed no contact with his sisters—but when they found out that he was going to be sent to Canada, they pled to be sent there, as well, hoping that they could be with him.
After Laura was able to track down which homes her siblings were sent to, she was horrified to learn that they had departed already for Canada—without her mother's permission. She impulsively figured out a way that she could follow them. However, a young lawyer named Andrew, the son of her employer, was on the same ship, and knew she was lying. What would he do to her? Would she ever find her brother and sisters—and if she did, would she be able to bring them back home? Or were they lost to her forever? And, as Andrew investigated the system which resettled orphans, and discovered that it wasn't what it sounded like, what could be done about the corruption?
This is not a happily-ever-after story. It's actually fairly true-to-life. I really enjoyed reading it. I do not enjoy romance stories very much, but would rather read a book like this, which describes something that really happened and makes it into a good story. There is some romance, but it is not the main point of this story. I am looking forward to reading the sequel—there were a number of threads that were not tied up neatly and I would like to know what happens next! This book is suitable for anyone from mid-teens on up.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 7 has someone exclaiming, “Blasted busybodies.”

If you are looking for a story that will tug at your heart strings, this is one of them! A book you will not want to put down!

Every country has their missteps in history and this was a tragic time for England. Based on good premise, the rehoming of children of parentless or poor families to financially better off families in Canada had merit when it began. Unfortunately the children had a class and stigma associated with them and many were abused once delivered to their new homes. Brought into homes as domestics, farm workers, or childcare providers, these children worked long, difficult days. They were no more than child slave labor in their new environments and some were sexually abused. The government had little tracking of the child’s placement and almost never followed up to check on the new living arrangements. There was also no criteria for qualifying adoptive parents. Pay a small fee, get a slave child.

I’m a historical fiction fan and this is typically my favorite kind of book. The premise of the story is based on an actual event in history which I love but the story itself is more love story than historical fiction. The authors writing style in this story seemed redundant. When characters would have private thoughts, it was often presented as questions in the dialogue. “Will he come back? What will I say? Can I really go to Canada? Can I have a relationship with him? What if we can’t find Grace?“ Halfway through the book this began to drive me crazy. There is disappointingly limited closure at the end because the author has chosen to write either a series or at least a second book on the subject.

In summary the basis of the story is interesting, the characters well developed and fell into either of two categories, villain or very likable. The romantic entanglements in such a serious subject matter didn’t work for me.

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky was a historical fiction based on orphans being placed in homes when they aren’t really orphans. This is heart wrenching. The family is getting poorer by the moment because of the loss of the father and then the mother is hospitalized. Word gets to the older sister who is away working to send money to help the mother out. She then finds herself on a journey to bring her family back together again. The romantic relationship that develops is wonderfully penned. She finds she really needs his help with the obstacles that she faces. This book feels to me like a Jane Austen.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Turansky truly captured the emotion and hardship that many families may of experienced during the late 1800's, who were caught up with the 'foster homes'. The McAlister Family had already lost their father causing Laura, the eldest daughter, to leave home to earn an income for the family still at home and then the children's mother became unwell. The trauma and hopelessness felt by families whose children had been sent to a foster home under false circumstances became a reality to Edna and Laura McAlister. Laura goes to unimaginable degrees to search for her brother and sisters. In her extensive search she also comes across someone very special.

Family matters the most

I read in the author's closing remarks that between the 1860's and the 1930's more than one hundred eighteen thousand poor and orphaned children were sent to Canada as British home children to work on farms and as domestic servents. Some were treated with kindness and others with cruelty. Until reading this book I had never heard of the British home children. It was also very sobering to hear about the orphanages and how hard it was to get children back once they were placed there because of a parent's illness. I know this is a story of fiction but it is based on true events and facts.

I enjoyed reading the story of Laura and her quest to find her brother Garth and her sisters Katie and Grace after they were sent to Canada by the orphanage without her mother's consent. Laura was working as a maid in another town and when she found out her mother was in the hospital she came back to London to find her siblings had been sent to an orphanage. She tried to see them and get them out in her care but the orphanage would not allow her to see them nor return them to her care. She than applied as an escort for children going to Canada with the orphanage in Liverpool where the children were sent, but she was too late and her siblings had already been sent to Canada. She than escorts a group to Canada to search for her siblings. This story is about that journey and how it came to be. The characters were charming and believable. Also Andrew, Mr. Dowd, and Rose. It was sad about Garth, as I imagine it was for many families. I wanted Grace to be found and perhaps in a sequel book she will be. I wonder how many children were sent from England to Canada without the consent of their family. This should not have happened, nor should the cruelty shown in some of the homes. A better system needed to be in place for immigrating and for vetting families receiving one of the children.

I did learn some part of history from the story. It was a very good story and written very well. I will certainly recommend to others.

Thanks to Carrie Turansky, Waterbrook and Multnomah Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoy historical fiction when it covers a lesser known moment in history. This novel builds on the 1869-1939 era when more than 100,00 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada under this idea of a "better" life.

It was gut-wrenching to read the familial struggles, The novel follows Laura in an effort to reconnect her family.

She, the oldest McAlister daughter, is left to gain employment after her father passes, while her mother cares for her younger siblings. When her mother becomes ill, her twin siblings are sent to an orphanage.

When hundreds of children are continually shipped out, Laura knows she must act quickly- so through the help of Andrew Fraser, a weathy, young British attorney,

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Laura and Andrew, plus her passion and zeal for reuniting her family in the face of such difficult times in British and Canadian history was propelling me through the story.

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially that set in lesser known instances, plus British or Canadian based writing, you will enjoy this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

No Ocean too Wide is an emotional rollercoaster of a book that brings to life the hardships of orphaned children or children from homes with hardships. I would highly recommend this book as it brings light to the history of orphans through a well-written story.

How have I never read any books by Carrie before? This story sucked me right in and I struggled to put it down. I quickly felt for the McAlister children and had to keep reading to find out if they would be reconnected. It felt like every time Laura got close another obstacle was in her way and she had no idea who she could trust. There were many times throughout I was almost in tears due to the heartbreak that occurred.

As I got closer to the end I began to wonder how the author would wrap up the story because it felt there was still too many unanswered questions. While I was disappointed that I will have to wait for the next book to get some answers I was pleased that the author did not try to rush up the wrap up. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in this series to find out what happens with Garth and Grace.

British Home Children, this is a phrase I was unfamiliar with until I read this book. This refers to children who were orphaned, living on the streets, etc. who were picked up and placed in children's homes in England and then emigrated to Canada to work as domestics, farm laborers, etc. Some of the children were adopted as well. As you can imagine the treatment of the children ranged from kindness and compassion to beatings and almost starvation.

No Ocean Too Wide tells the imaginary tale of three children, who were placed in a home while their mom was in the hospital. Then without their mother's consent, they were emigrated to Canada and separated from each other. Just imagining this is awful, actually living this story would be horrible. Carrie does a good job of bringing the story alive and not sugarcoating some of the issues that went on.

While the storyline is fiction, I am sure that there were many cases like this story. All children deserve to be loved and cared for and when they are not, it is the worst thing in my mind.

Laura, their older sister, heads to Canada to search for them and, of course, there's a romance as well. The part of the romance that I could appreciate was the overlooking of social status, Laura was a servant girl, Andrew was a solicitor and heir to a pretty expansive estate and he was willing to overlook that. In that era in England, I think he was pretty unconventional in that regard.

The book ended with a lot of questions, but it appears that there is a sequel coming out and I will want to read it to see what happens to the children and to their older sister, Laura.

I received this book from Multnomah via NeGalley and was no required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! This book grabbed me from the very start and I read it in just two days. The heartbreaking story of so many British children who were shipped to Canada with the “hopes of a better life”. Many were not orphans and still had parents who loved them.
This story made me want to learn more about this time period and dark history of England.
It is well written and the characters come to life in the pages. I can’t wait to read more about their story. It ending, while satisfying, hints at a continuing story.

No Ocean Too Wide was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. I loved this book from the beginning until the end. The characters were realistic and I loved how the story was based on true events.

The story had so much depth and I couldn't help wishing that the family would all get reunited. It was crazy how they could just move the children without letting their mother know.

This is the second book I've read by Carrie Turansky and it won't be my last. It was heartbreaking at times and yet also very sweet. I highly recommend No Ocean Too Wide to fans of historical romance.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

I really enjoyed this story. I ought to mention, I have heard about the British Home Children before.: they were literally children from homes in Britain that were shipped off to Canada and Australia, where many were made to work as indentured servants, and some were abused. Some were adopted, but not all. Most were said to be orphans, when some were not.
Their plight is now a National Scandal, and a few years ago the British government issued a formal apology to those still living and their descendants.

No Ocean Too Wide is not, therefore a typical novel by Carrie Turansky, nor is it a typical Romance. The romance is actually in the background. Its primarily a story about a family: a family which are torn apart and stuggling to be reunited and cling onto ther faith despite mistreatment, lies and prejudice.
It also handles the difficult subject very well, with sensitivity: honest, but not dwelling too much on the nastier details.

Its actually a beautiful story, well written and it doesn't read as too American. If that makes any sense. Plus the narrator of the audiobook does a great Manchester accent.

I was glad to find out that this was the first book in a series, since there was much left unresolved, such as what happened to little Grace.

I requested this title from the Published via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

ABOUT NO OCEAN TOO WIDE



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”



My Thoughts: This was an interesting compelling book to read. It is honestly hard to read about children being taken away from their families by those who feel they are making the children's lives better when in fact the children are treated like slaves. This is the hard part of the book to read, but the fact is, is that this was actually happening during this time period. The author has done a tremendous job of bringing the truth out in this novel. Like every story that has hardship in it, this one does have a little hope. I certainly look forward to reading the second book in this series.