This very interesting novel is filled with great characters and two engrossing storylines, one historical and one current day, as well as an intriguing paranormal element. The historical storyline is set against the backdrop of the end of WWII and a ship full of war brides heading to the United States. One of these brides aboard the RMS Queen Mary has a huge secret that could destroy her.

In the current day storyline, Brette is able to communicate with ghosts. A former classmate and widower asks her help with his young daughter, who believes she spoke with her mother on a visit to tour the RMS Queen Mary. Brette soon becomes aware that something happened aboard the ship on one of her voyages, and she becomes determined to figure out what really occurred.

This was a really good book. It was my first by this author, but I'll definitely be reading more.

Let me start by saying I am a huge Susan Meissner fan and even after this read I will continue to read her, she is a star author when it comes to historical fiction and I haven't even finished all of her backlist. When I was pitched this book, I didn't read the synopsis because I knew that I would love it and after starting the book I went back and re read it and was surprised that a big plot point wasn't even hinted at in the synopsis.

So there are ghosts and characters who can talk with ghosts and I don't tend to read books with these in them, so I was sad when it started but pushed on because I love this author and the characters beyond their abilities were interesting. And that is what I would say after I read the book, I loved the plot and the characters, I just kind of wish they didn't have special capabilities.

As in most historical fiction and in this one, I learned things which I always love when reading this genre. I was mostly clueless about the Queen Mary and its historical significance and love reading fiction to learn about new things.

So I am on the fence on this book. There were some characteristics that I absolutely adored, but I just couldn't enjoy it fully with the ghosts and things wandering around.

A wonderful read. Set in the present day and 1946 when the Queen Mary is shipping war brides to New York. I love historical fiction particularly set in the WW2 era. This is a fascinating account of the war brides heading to the US to meet the men they married some not even knowing if they will recognise their husbands. The story concentrates on two brides both moving forward from tragic, heartbreaking events from the war in France, Belgium and Germany. I have to admit when I first started the book and realised their was a ghost element I almost stopped as this is not my genre at all but so pleased I continued as it truly is a lovely book and the current day events with the spirits brings to a satisfying conclusion.

The summary for this book is so wrong. While it didn’t bother me, I feel like it could blind side a lot of people and therefore make them dislike this book for no other reason than the fact that they feel like they were tricked.

The Bridge Across the Ocean follows three different women; Simone, Annalise and Brette. Annalise and Simone’s story lines take place in the mid-1940s in Germany and France respectively. Brette’s storyline takes place in the present in California. Brette’s family has had the gift of Sight, which means that she can see ghosts. However, she has always fought this ability and his it from all but her parents and her husband. The stories jump around from character to character and are seemingly unconnected, but they do make sense over time.

While I am not crazy about ghost stories, it is one of the paranormal subjects that I can handle. Meissner does a great job making Brette’s ability seem believable. I appreciated that while she has the Sight, she is not something that she uses. This is not a story about a woman who is searching for a ghost to help. She kind of stumbles into that situation, but it’s not even the core of the story. I do think it is important to know that there is a ghost storyline though because I know that that will influence a lot of readers, either for the good or the bad.

While I did enjoy Brette’s storyline, it wasn’t my favorite. I really enjoyed reading about Simone and Annalise. I loved being able to see two different perspectives from right around the same time. They are both so different yet every time one of their chapters came up I was immediately immersed.

I also felt that the mystery of the story was well done. While it was, obviously, the center for the story to revolve around, it never seemed as though I was just reading about Brette trying to figure out what happened. In between Brette solving the mystery the reader gets to learn about the two character who the mystery revolves around. I haven’t read a lot of books in this format and I found it enjoyable. I also was taken by surprise with the ending.

I know I’ve said it a few times but, this book was so enjoyable! I finished it in a little over a day and it was a pleasant experience from beginning to end. It was light a refreshing but with some substance with the WW2 content. If you enjoy historical fiction I would highly recommend this book. Don’t let the fact that there is a ghost element put you off of this story; give it a chance!

It's rare that a book will stay with you for days afterwards, this is that book. The author blended a ghost story, historical fiction, and a mystery flawlessly.

I have read several of Meissners novels and can honestly say she never disappoints. Her ability to weave past and present together so seamlessly makes her novels flow effortlessly. I was afraid that the paranormal aspect may take away from the story, but it ended up really adding a dimension to it that wouldn't have been possible without otherwise. Really enjoyed. 4.5 stars.

https://lovintoread.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-bridge-across-ocean-by-susan-meissner.html

3.5 stars.
A thoroughly enjoyable book, but far from perfect. The present-day characters were sadly underdeveloped; I would've liked to learn more about Brette's family and their gift of Sight. The WWII-era characters were much, much more interesting.

Available now: A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

***3/5 stars-liked it

A supernatural historical mystery from the bestselling author of Secrets of a Charmed Life.

Recommended readers:

fans of the historical and present-day mystery revealed in dueling chapters
fans of supernatural mystery
Here's my Rankings:

3/5 for characters
3/5 for plot
3/5 overall
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:

This plot and character-driven page turner follows the fate of three women: two survivors of World War II and a modern woman with the ability to see and talk to ghosts. While I have read novels with reference to the presence of ghosts before, I found found this endlessly-discussed rendering to be rather distracting and difficult to take at face value. Despite this, the storyline is cleverly plotted, and I found myself curious what would happen to the characters (if not their ghosts.) Next stop: a novel by this author that does not focus on the otherworldly.

The cover drew me to this book, and it turned out to be very different than I thought it would be. The book is both historical fiction and paranormal phenomena. The modern day character can see ghosts, or "drifters", and the historical fiction aspect is woven throughout the WWII characters' lives. I loved the beginning, and the middle was even better, but I'm torn about how it ended, which is why I'm only giving it 3.5 stars. It was a bit strange, but I do think the deeper messages woven into the ending were interesting and thought provoking, so overall I'm glad I read it. I recommend this book to anyone who is in to paranormal & historical fiction. :-) Thank you, Netgalley, for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

his book y’all- I was Really Into it.

No spoilers here, but this is a ghost story, a touching WWII Historical Fiction novel, a story about love, friendship, secrets & refuge rolled into one. Susan does the unthinkable & weaves this all together into a beautiful cohesive story.

One my buddies was initially tuned off because a chapter or so in, we learn that Brette can see spirits or ghosts. This was a surprise to me as I didn’t remember reading anything about that in the publisher’s description. We both kept reading & although spirits are a part of the story, there’s so much more that is here, so please don’t let that deter you.

I loved reading about Annaliese becoming a ballerina & her friendship with Katrine. This is my first book by Susan Meissner & it certainly will not be my last. I had the pleasure of meeting her this summer at an event in Savannah, GA & she was so pleasant & kind. I’ve heard wonderful things about A Fall of Marigolds & Secrets of A Charmed Life.

If you’re a fan of The Nightingale or The Girl You Left Behind, I bet you will be Really Into This book as well.

Special thanks to Susan Meissner, Berkley Books & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

This is a fascinating book! I've recently read several novels set during World War II, but this is the first that tells the stories of women who became American war brides. Ms Meissner is particularly skilled in character development as she moves among two European women from that period and an American woman living in 21st century California. She deftly handles both the challenges faced by women trying to survive in wartime and by a woman dealing with the her own special paranormal sensibilities. All those challenges should provide many topics for book clubs to discuss. Since I'm a big fan of mysteries, I appreciated the added spice of mystery that became more apparent as the book progressed. Thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for providing access to such a good book!

A wonderful historical fiction novel that had a bit of the supernatural in it for a good twist.

The Short Of It:
I had such high hopes for this WWII novel, but it was a bit of a disappointment.

The Long Of It:
I was all set to love "A Bridge Across the Ocean," what I expected to be a typical WWII/present day historical fiction dual narrative. But I was quickly thrown for a loop when it was revealed that the modern day protagonist communicates with ghosts, and that's how the stories are linked (something conspicuously absent from the book blurb). Usually in books like this the past/present connection is accomplished with something like a letter, or a found diary, or a mysterious old manor, and perhaps I should've been excited that Meissner did something fresh but it just did not work for me (and I did try to keep an open mind at first!).

Brette, our ghost liaison, rubbed me wrong from the start; she's experiencing something of a midlife crisis with regard to her "ability" and I found her to be whiny and hard to empathize with. (Also, see how I said "midlife"? I think Brette is only in her 30s, but she's written like she's twice that age.) The whole thing, especially the ghost-centric ending, just felt incredibly hokey to me and I absolutely could not suspend my disbelief when it came to Brette's encounters with "Drifters." I'd get into the two historical narratives and then turn the page and be flung back to Brette and modern day San Diego and ghosts, and it'd just completely take me out of the story. I'm a fan of the paranormal in the right books, but not here. (Also, how the hell are you supposed to pronounce Brette?)

Additionally, I was far from impressed with Meissner's writing, which was quite basic and plain. Where was the interesting word choice, beautiful analogies and linguistic creativity? Not here! I was also missing that vivid sense of atmosphere and setting that good authors can achieve, and there were plenty of missed opportunities for it.

Now for the positives: I actually did enjoy the stories of Simone and Annaliese, two strong women -- each with secrets to hide -- who meet on the RMS Queen Mary, a ship filled with war brides traveling from England to the U.S. to be reunited with their new husbands. Simone and Annaliese's backstories of hardship and courage during the war were intriguing and, despite the terrible things they'd been forced to do to survive, they were easy to root for.

If you can get past the ghost aspect and the lackluster writing and you're a WWII historical fiction fan, this might be a novel for you to check out. But if you don't get around to it (and perhaps select a better WWII novel instead, like "All the Light We Cannot See" or "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" or Jojo Moyes' "The Ship of Brides" which also deals with war brides; I haven't read it yet but I know it will be better than this one because Moyes is a way better writer) I don't think you'll be missing out on too terribly much.

Susan Meissner produces another great read. She has mastered the art of dual time frames and different point of views. The story alternated between WWII and present day. The stories of the past were told from the point of view of two courageous women, Annaliese Kurtz and Simone Rogers. The present day story is told from the point of view of Brette, a young woman who has struggled with an unusual gift or ability. While seeking to come to terms with this gift, Brette seeks to solve the mystery of the death of one of the war brides that traveled to America on the Queen Mary in 1946. Three women shared a cabin, but one did not leave the ship when it arrived in America. Meissner slowly allows the story of these women to be told, alternating between the past and the present. While the story lines set in the past grabbed my attention immediately, it took awhile for me to warm up to Brette's present-day story. But as all the pieces fall into place at the end, the reader will find that Brette's story is the uniting piece.

I found this to be an entertaining story. While reading the last half of the book, I found it very difficult to put down when real life called. I loved the strength found in Meissner's heroines, the rich historical detail of WWII, the story of the War Brides and the story of the ship, the Queen Mary. While I do not usually read books with a supernatural element, I found that the author's use of the supernatural to drive the plot, without overshadowing the story of these heroic women to be masterful.

Susan Meissner returns following (2016) Stars Over Sunset Boulevard with her latest, A BRIDGE ACROSS THE OCEAN — a character-driven tale of three women from modern day to the past of the 1940s, of fear, courage pain, love, and loyalty.

From the past to present, lost souls who had to cross many bridges from pain and suffering on their journey to self-discovery.

Brette Caslake, present day lives in the present. She has a gift. She sees spirits, the ones which linger. She is drawn into a mystery which began with the RMS Queen Mary brought thousands of War brides to the US.

Annaliese Lange, who is escaping from a marriage to a Nazi, and Simone Devereux, who lost her family in the war.

"Life will send us across a bridge we did not want to cross, but when we finally open our eyes on the other side, we see that there had been nothing to fear after all."

Brette becomes drawn into the lives of three women from the past. Two of the women are escaping the horrors of war and a brutal past of pain and suffering. Brette tries to solve the mystery of the death of one of the war brides when traveling to America on the Queen Mary in 1946.

Three women shared a cabin; however, one did not leave the ship when it arrived in America. Brette connects with the lost souls while struggling with her own abilities. The Drifters or spirits. The author unravels the events while connecting the stories of past and present.

While I enjoyed the stories of the courageous women from the past, the present day Brette was not as intriguing.

As always, Meissner has a unique way of transporting you to another time and place re-living the past which lives on. Timeless. With well-researched topics and interesting stories of strong yet complex women, family, and relationships.

Lovers of historical fiction, a little mystery, and complex multi-layered stories will appreciate as well as enjoying the special twist!

A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early reading copy. An elegant cover!

JDCMustReadBooks

A sneaky book, though in a rather good way. You start out thinking that this is going to be your standard family epic story with a bit of historical drama thrown in for good measure. In a lovely twist you end up with a historical mystery infused with a supernatural twist that adds to the story instead of detracting or distracting from the story line.
With plenty of viewpoints to look at the story, author Susan Meissner keeps shifting around showing new facets of the story. Though it can be a might confusing at first, if one sticks with it, the finished story is a fascinating thing. I wasn't at all sure that I would enjoy it at first because i was looking for more historic fiction rather than another supernatural story. The way Meissner used the supernatural aspect of it, actually made it all the better for me and I am looking forward to buying a hard copy for my collection when it comes out.

*This eBook was provided in exchange for honest feedback by NetGalley and Berkley Books*

I’ve read and enjoyed previous books by Susan Meissner, (Secrets of a Charmed Life being a favorite) so I was excited to read A Bridge Across the Ocean. It has a great title, the cover art is intriguing, and the back cover blurb captured my attention. With that said, I was surprised by the ghost aspect of this book. I feel the blurb should’ve disclosed a bit more than it did. I still found the story enjoyable.

Over the past few years I’ve really sunk into WWII novels, as well as dual time period stories, and this one delivers that. I also like that this book includes various points of view, which allows me to get into the head of more than one character.

Learning how WWII changed the lives of three women within different eras put me through countless emotions. Annaliese Lange, a ballerina, Simone Deveraux, the daughter of a spy, and Brette Caslake, a seer of ghosts, are interesting characters who I sympathized with and learned from.

I was thrown off a bit by the ghost aspect in this story, and wish the blurb disclosed this so I would’ve better known what to expect. But the author is a skillful writer with a wonderful sense of mystery and storytelling.

4 Stars

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 384
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0451476005
First Lines (Chapter One): A Friend’s baby shower was the last place Brette Caslake expected to encounter a ghost. The gauzy apparition wafted into the stylish living room, as if blown in on a breeze, the moment the pregnant guest of honor began to open her presents.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

I was really excited to receive this because I really enjoyed one of her other books. I liked the idea of the book because I had never heard the story of the Queen Mary bringing war brides over after the war. What these women's lives before, during, and after the war was great to read and delve into. With all he flash backs and different points of view mixing together I didn't know what was going on and how it would connect which kept me reading. I had to know what happened and who the ghost on the ship was. I liked the ending. It felt complete but I was a little disappointed with the revelation too. But in all it was a good book.

A Bridge Across the Ocean was a refreshing and intriguing read. Historical Fiction books can often have predictable plots but Susan Meissner's newest book is far from traditional WWII fiction. The story has strong believable heroines and has a hint of the supernatural.

Brette Caslake is a just a regular woman who tries hard to hide her ability to see ghosts and "Drifters". Brette's journey leads her to the RMS Queen Mary ship which instigates a hunt to discover the truth on a death which occurred on one sailing of War Brides to the United States. Simone Deveraux and Annaliese Lange both struggle to survive their own horrors as they live through WWII and find themselves both onboard the same voyage of the RMS Queen Mary to the United States. Brette tried to unravel the truth behind Simone and Annaliese's voyage across the ocean and help her elusive "Drifter" find peace.

A Bridge Across the Ocean is a complex tale of survival and it can be powerful and emotional at times. I would highly recommend this book to those who love complex historical and WWII fiction novels. I would also like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced reading of this book.