Can you imagine being sick enough to be put in the hospital, only to recover and find out your children have been sent to an orphanage and then shipped to another country for adoption or to work as domestic servants or farm laborers? That is the basis for this story that is the first of a series involving the McAlister family.

Having lost their father, the McAlister children and their mother are trying to make ends meet. Mrs. McAlister works as a seamstress and lives above the shop with her three youngest children, Grace and twins Garth and Katie. Her older daughter Laura works in a nearby village as a ladies maid.

When Laura learns of her mother’s illness, she returns to London to help her mother and siblings, only to find out that they have been put in a home. When she’s not allowed to see them and learns they are being sent to Canada, Laura resorts to drastic measures to find them.

There are some tense moments, appalling circumstances and a bit of romance, but mostly this story is one about hope and putting your faith in the Lord that things will work out. It would have been nice for the author to have written about 100 more pages and finished the story, rather than publish it as a series. I don’t mind reading a series, but this one things in limbo.

Many thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multonomah for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

This is my first book I’ve read by Carrie Turansky and I’m hooked! The story captured my interest from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. This is a poignant story of four children during the era of the early 1900’s when children’s emigration from London to Canada was a very real event. In the same vein as Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, the author explores the sometimes horrifying situations these children were put through, all through the efforts of “Christian charity”. This novel follows the journey of Laura, Katie, Garth, and Grace after the death of their father and a severe illness of their mother. I found myself falling in love with the children – I can’t wait until the sequel to learn more of their journeys to reunite.

Thank you NetGalley and Multnomah for the ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to write a positive review; all opinions are my own.

One disaster after another besets the McAlister family. Katie McAlister and her twin brother Garth have had to help their mum earn rent money ever since their da died in a tragic accident. But at fourteen, job openings prove scarce. Katie helps her mom do her piece work for a dressmaker, and Garth delivers groceries.

Their older sister Laura went into service to help make ends meet, and their younger sister, Grace is too young to help out. But when Mum falls ill, the family finds themselves in horrible straits. Even worse, the constable who catches Garth trying to steal a loaf of bread demands that the three younger children get turned over to an orphanage.

After a disastrous first placement, Laura has found a good place at Bolton Hall, acting as lady’s maid to Mrs. Frasier. At Bolton Hall, no young men linger in the stairwells, trying to take liberties. When Mrs. Frasier’s son shows up, Laura worries that he’ll turn out like the young man at her first place of employment. She also worries because she hasn’t heard from Mum in weeks.

But Mr. Andrew Frasier, a sincere Christian, ends up helping Laura in her hour of need when she receives a letter from one of her mum’s friends. Her younger siblings have entered an orphanage, and kindly neighbors insisted that her mother enter the hospital. Mrs. Frasier allows Laura to leave immediately for London to try to untangle the mess. Andrew Frasier promises further aid, should Laura need it.

Laura discovers that once her siblings get turned over to the orphan system, she has no power to reunite her family. She’ll try anything—even taking a job under a false name—to find her brother and sisters.

The orphan system in the early 1900s in London looks nothing like what we have in place today. Turansky meticulously researches this little-known segment of history, where orphanages gain total control over children and send them away to Canada for lives unknown. Readers who love books by Sarah Ladd and Jennifer Delamere will enjoy this first book in the McAlister Family series.

Couldn't put the bio k down,you so felt so many emotions for this family and then realized theirs wasn't the only family going through this!! Well written loved the story and It's Just horrible they and others had to endure the war,destruction it brought! Makes you feel you were with them on this journey to find family👪

Carrie Turansky has another best seller on her hands! I was pulled into this book from page one. I absolutely loved the characters, each character grabbed my heart in a different way. The history of orphans being sent over seas to Canada was interesting to learn about. I cannot believe how hard it was for those children being taken away from all they knew. The author did a wonderful job showing how Laura’s faith grew throughout the story. Laura started out running ahead of God instead of trusting him to go before her. I love the spiritual aspect of this story, it was very well done and spoke to my heart. The story was never slow and kept me turning pages as fast as I could. This is definitely a book that will keep you thinking on it for days!
Was given a complimentary book from Multnomah publishing. All opinions are my own.

No Ocean Too Wide by CARRIE TURANSKY is a clean novel highlighting the history of the more than one hundred eighteen thousand poor and orphaned British children between 1860 and 1930 who were sent to Canada in hopes of a new life.

This story follows the unfortunate events of one family and ends with a cliffhanger pointing to a resolution in the next book of the series.

If you enjoy historical fiction that teaches and moves swiftly, you'll enjoy this story.

This is a gut-wrenching story about the Mcallister family who get separated when their mother takes ill. Three of the four children end up in an Orphan Home where many children get sent overseas to Canada to make a “better life.” When the oldest sibling, Laura, finds out about it, she tries to make things right but she meets up with obstacles at every turn and time is running out.
I was unfamiliar with the “British Home Children.” It is astounding that so many were sent thousands of miles from home to a new continent with very little supervision and few checks. It reminds me of the orphan trains in our country where the results were often mixed as well. The thought of mistakes being made, like in the case of the Mcallister family, is horrific. This made me appreciate the efforts of those trying to find out the truth like Henry and Andrew so much. The story is very compelling and I look forward to learning more about the Mcallister family in the upcoming books.
Thank you to Multnomah for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

My favorite Carrie Turansky novel to date! A moving tale that shines a light on historical events that I didn't even know happened, namely the British Home Child immigration program. Where "more than 100,000 poor, orphaned, and abandoned children were sent to Canada and promised a better life, but many suffered from neglect, abuse, and prejudice." Author Carrie Turansky has done her research well, and weaves a compelling story that gives us a taste of what this experience must have been like. No Ocean Too Wide is a prime example of why I love historical fiction. Well done!

Great read! I am surprised this is based on a true story. I had no idea that children in orphanages were sent to Canada, let alone that it could be done without the parents’ consent. Well-written, intriguing, and touching. Highly recommended.

Have you ever heard of the “Orphan Trains”? Most fans of Christian Historical Fiction have read at least one story along that line, myself included. This is a similar story but of a variety I had never heard of before, orphans immigrating by boat from Britain to Canada!
In this book, based on true events, Carrie Turansky weaves a story that draws you in and tugs at your heartstrings. A sick mother and four children, separated by tragic events - each member of the family showing us a different part of the system.
A little bit sad, a little bit of romance, a touch of mystery, a healthy serving of heartwarming… mix it all up and you get a book that I can see myself re-reading and I’m definitely recommending to friends. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel next year and finding out what happens next!

I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

No Ocean Too Wide #1 McAlister Family by Carrie Turansky

Set in 1908 London and Canada, No Ocean Too Wide takes the reader on an unforgettable journey. When the McAlister family is met with hard times they had no idea of the shocking events that would take place. Thus taking them on a journey that was not easy and heartbreaking. The McAlister siblings, Laura, Katie, Garth and Grace, captured my heart and I grieved for them and their plight. Carrie Turansky weaves a story that captures your heart and brings tears as the children face such appalling situations thrust upon them. The characters experience struggles and challenges, surprises, family dedication, loyalties, love and enduring faith, bringing to life historical accounts in a vivid and heartwarming story.

~I received a copy of this book from the author/Barbour publishing/NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

In NO OCEAN TOO WIDE, CARRIE TURANSKY tells the story of three siblings who end up in an orphanage in England, and from there are sent to Canada; and their older sister who sets off into the unknown to find them and bring them home. This happens in 1909 and really opens our eyes to the horrific things that happened, (and in fact are still happening in some places) in the name of charity and religion! )
Andrew Frasier and his friend and mentor, Henry Dowd, who are partners in a legal firm in London, have been asked to look into the situation in children's homes and child emigration for the British government. They are godly men and take this investigation seriously.
We see in this book that things are not always as they seem, and, whilst there are some cases where the immigrant children are treated well, there is little to no supervision, and many of the children are exploited and literally treated as slaves.
I am not going to tell you any more about the story except to say that there is a good plot, an unlikely romance, and a good Christian message. It is altogether a really good read.
I was given a free copy other book by NetGalley from Waterbrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I am a history nut. I love reading anything historical and learning about the past. So I was excited to read No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky. I was completely uneducated about the history lesson I was about to receive. Turansky has certainly done her research and delivers a moving and captivating story. From the late 1800’s to the 1930’s the poor children of London that were uncared for or orphan were put on trains and the ships to Canada to be adopted or apprenticed to families that paid a three dollar fee. Unfortunately there was not a lot of follow up and some of the situations were not ideal. No Ocean Too Wide tells the story of a family that falls victim to this scheme. When the Macalister family becomes separated due to their mother’s illness oldest daughter Laura steps in to rescue her brother and sisters. She leaves her position as a ladies maid to the Frazier family and travels back to London only to discover she is too late. Her siblings have boarded a ship bound for Canada.. Concocting a plan to rescue the children Laura finds herself strugggling against unfair laws and prejudices. But with the help of Andrew, the son of the Frazier family, Laura will do whatever it takes to reunite her family before it’s too late.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

No Ocean Too Wide is the latest from Carrie Turansky. This tale will introduce you to the McAlister family. After their father dies while on his job, this family has to learn to survive on the mean streets of London, England. Life is hard in the early 1900s; however, when their mother becomes ill and is quickly transported to the hospital, her children do not know which way to turn!

After these young children are placed in an orphanage, their older sister, Laura, runs into trouble tracking them down. Thinking their mother has died, these children agree to be transported to another land to find a new home. When Laura learns that plans have been made to ship her siblings, along with hundreds of other children, across the ocean to Canada, she knows that she must find someone who will help her search for them!

This tale will keep you on the edge of your seat as you see all of the places and tough situations that Laura will encounter along the way. Laura is blessed by God when her former employer’s son, Andrew Fraser, a British lawyer, decides to lend a hand in her search. Andrew is looking into the companies who are placing these children into jobs or with families in a new land!

Will these children’s lives be better or will they be taken advantage of? Hold on to discover the answer to this question!

It almost seems mean to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To think of all these children went through... Carrie Turansky has clearly put effort and heart in research and heart to lay out their plight. That's what I mean when I say I enjoyed this book. The heart, the emotions of the characters wrap around your heart and makes you want to cry out to them! And cry for them!

I loved that the book is told from all the siblings' point of view, not just Laura's. In fact, in the beginning, we get to hang out with Katie and Garth more than Laura. I was intrigued to see how the romance would play out. The author obviously as taking a risk to play out a down-stairs-up-stairs romance. But I'm glad to say it was organic and developed pleasingly.

I'm very much excited to see what she'll bring next for the McAllister family, for their story has just begun.

This book was so touching and painful at the same time. I can't imagine living through the days of child emigration. The characters were all so personable. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the sequel!

I learned so much from this book. It was wonderfully written and had historical information, romance and delightful characters. I look forward to the sequel in 2020. Carrie wrote a novel of great value and knowledge. It also, had great spiritual values that gave strength to the characters and myself as a reader. A good book for a book club to read.

I was blessed to be a part of the street team for Carrie Turansky's new novel. I was intrigued by the subject matter of orphaned children who were sent from England to Canada to basically work as indentured servants. Many were treated as family, but others were abused and treated as slaves. My heart broke for the children in this story. I was inspired by the older sister, Laura, who does all she can to reunite with her brother and sisters when they are sent to Canada without their ill mother being informed or her giving permission. The author beautifully weaves examples of Christian faith throughout the story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I read this captivating book in only a few days, and I am already wishing for the sequel! I think the fact that it was historical fiction made it even more interesting to me. It was really sad to read about Katie McAlister's experiences throughout the book, and sobering to realize that children actually went through that or worse when they were sent from England to Canada. I enjoyed the clean romance between Laura and Andrew, and I was really rooting for all of the characters as I read the book. All of the loose ends are not tied up at the end of the book, because as I said before, there is a sequel, but there was enough closure to make for a happy ending. I highly recommend this book and will be anxiously awaiting book two in 2020!

Unbeknownst to her, Katie McAllister’s mother has fallen ill and been taken to the hospital. This has left her three younger siblings fending for themselves at home as Katie lives and works on an Estate an hour away. The children are put into an orphanage until their mother is able to return home. By the time Katie finds out about their situation and arrives to take them home and care for them the children have already boarded a ship with many other orphans bound for Canada and a new life.

I really enjoyed reading this story inspired by true events. British orphans were shipped to Canada to start a new life. Some finding themselves in a home they always dreamed of but a lot were forced to doing long tiring hours of labour and treated unfairly. The author developed characters that I easily became attached to and I wasn’t quite ready for it to end.
I am definitely looked forward to reading the next book in this series.