An Ocean Between Us

Most people have no idea the part that Ireland played in World War II, and the price that Irish men and women payed for fighting with the Allies. No real fan of England, Ireland was neutral during the war and in 1943 when young Aileen Sweeney met Niall O’Rourke at a dance, she believed the soldier would be staying safely at home. Niall’s decision to fight with England, however, shatters her dreams and turns public sentiment against the young man. With the world gone mad and Niall off fighting a war he may never return from, Aileen must face the barely disguised hatred of those she once called friends. This part of history is almost unknown, I know of it only because my British father left to serve in the navy during the War at age 16, something his Irish mother never really understood

There was a wide divide of animosity among the IRA. And the men of Ireland for fought for the British in both world wars. This is a story of their plight and the women who loved them. Immigration was a last resort for many Irish. Theirs was a tragic tale.

An Ocean Between Us by Rachel Quinn is a love story set in Ireland during World War Two.
Aileen meets Niall at a village dance. They fall in love and get engaged. Niall is an Irish soldier and joins the British Army to fight in the war in Europe. This act is seen by Aileen's family as being a traitor to Ireland. Aileen vows to stand by him until her returns from the war.
The way these men were treated by their fellow Irishmen was really sad.
I enjoyed this book especially the character of Brianna.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
The cover of this book really drew me in
A warm and inviting read of trouble times that so many had to put up with can highly recommend this book to friends

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

A fantastic read.
A view from Ireland to what impact the war had on those who chose to fight and the lives of loved one's they left behind.

A fabulous insight into life in Ireland during the second world war of the struggles people faced,also how your choices impacted on your life.well worth 5*

It is a romance historical fiction placed in Ireland during WWII about true love.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.

Well written historical romance set during WWII. I enjoyed the plot and the writing. I am not normally a fan of historical fiction but enjoyed this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

This was a great 4.5 star book about World War II and Ireland, specifically because they were neutral and their hatred for anything British. It is a wonderful love story between Aileen and Niall, a member of the Irish Army who decides to fight for the British in WWII. But his decision does not sit well with Aileen's family, who ultimately (along with the whole country) considers Niall a coward and traitor, and thus their relationship is to end and they are no longer to have any contact. But Aileen and Niall are in love, and they will do anything to keep that love alive. Even if Aileen has to move to Dublin, and away from her dominate and close family.

While Niall is fight on the shores of Normandy, France, and Belgium, Aileen is in Dublin working in a factory cutting bandages. But on a night out with a friend, she meets Marvin an American soldier station in Dublin at the time. Marvin whoos Aileen in ways Niall hasn't with dinners and movies, but Aileen's heart belongs to Niall and Marvin's heart belongs to Aileen.

When the war is over, Niall comes home and his presence is not welcome at Aileen's parent's home, but her sister Brianna helps with secret trips to Dublin to see him. Now that the war is over Niall has a hard time getting a job, he is blacklisted from any government job because he is labeled a coward for fighting for the British. His only way to make money, to give Aileen a good life is moving to America, which brings heartache and turmoil to Aileen.

I enjoyed the characters, how they interacted, and how fighting for who you believe in is all that matters. I didn't know much of the Irish history with WWII, so that aspect of it was interesting. It was a different perspective of WWII, for a different country than I normally read. I would recommend this to those that like WWII books, it is a bit of a romance, because while two characters are fighting a war, one is fighting for love, no matte what the cost.

What a book! I loved it. I absolutely love reading books from this historical period and it made a pleasant change to read one from the view of Ireland,instead of London or Liverpool. I got a real understanding of the times and the feeling. The book was a real pageturner I could not put it down. I had to know who she was married to! I had to know how she got there. There were even times when I was cursing her thinking she'd done something else! But it all came together beautifully. The author described scenes in just the right amount of detail and it never got boring! I hope to read many more books from this author.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the author for allowing me to read it.

I found this to be truly interesting historical fiction. Based around the romance of Niall and Aileen and then Marvin, it's the story of Ireland during WWII. It's also the story of Aileen's sister Brianna. It's hard to describe the relationships without spoilers because they so color what happens. The fact that Niall, who enlisted in the British Army to fight the Axis, was considered a traitor to Ireland, with impact even after the war, seems so counterintuitive to those of us who were not aware of how deep the rift was between Ireland and the UK. The characters are well done, the story nicely plotted (if distressing in spots), and the writing will pull you in. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a good one.

An Ocean Between Us by Rachel Quinn. Do you like historical romance. Read An Ocean Between Us. Rachel Quinn is a new author for me.

I am so glad I read this book. I had no idea how harshly the Irish soldiers who fought in the British army were treated when they returned to Ireland. The whole book is an interesting read. Love shines through everything in this story. It is beautifully written and I would definitely recommend reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I thoroughly liked this story of a young Irish girl Aileen, who fell in love with an Irish soldier, Niall who went to fight with the British and was thus shunned by many people in Ireland during World War II . Aileen vows to wait for Niall even though her parents will have nothing to do with him because of his decision, to fight with England.
Through her sister Brianna, she is able to still meet up with Niall, both before and after he returns. Great characters and an interesting look at Ireland's stance on the war . The author gives us an in depth, look of what it is like for all of these characters as they go about their lives, waiting to be reunited or not.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book.

This is a great book about world war two and the effect it had on the Irish men who fought in it. It is a beautifully written love story as well.The author does a very good job of intersecting the past with the present. I hope to read more by this author.
Thanks Net Galley for my copy!

The author did a brilliant job of capturing the time period in this novel. The characters and plot were also well written. This was a great piece of historical fiction!

If you're looking for historical fiction with a protagonist that will steal your heart with her outspokenness and bravery then this is the book for you. I never knew or thought about Ireland's involvement in WW2 until this book brought it to my attention. This book reminded me of what I love about historical fiction. We get to see and feel history through someone's perspective. We get to see what that era truly cost someone and we are better able to relate because we get to see our characters, the ones we have gotten to know, through these events. I think its my favorite way of learning about history and then it opens up my curiosity to go learn more about this period. This book certainly did that. I truly recommend it.

It was an interesting read especially with the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings due on June 6th 2019. Coincidentally, while reading the novel, there was a reference in the media about the inaccurate design of the commemorative stamp for the occasion. Initially, I found the style rambling with clunky, inconsequential and silly dialogue but the momentum of the plot gathered eventually. I didn't think it put the Irish in a good light and was shocked at the bigoted attitude displayed towards Niall especially from Aileen's ignorant, bullying family. I didn't take to Aileen. I found her immature, selfish, abrasive and downright rude especially to the GI, Marvin. Briana had the nicer nature of the two girls. I would have liked Niall's war experience to have been more fleshed out. It was the most auspicious and complex operation, of WW2 but the drama of it fell flat and only seemed to be a vague backcloth for the Irish bigotry. It was a missed opportunity. I enjoyed parts of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

It is 1943 & Europe is in the middle of WW2. Ireland is neutral but the troubles with Britain are still very much alive in the minds of many Irish people. Eighteen year old Aileen Sweeney longs to spread her wings. When she meets Irish soldier Niall she initially thinks him too brash but his persistence wins her round. He seems to get on well with her large family too. There appears to be a wedding in sight until Niall & his mates decide to join the British Army to fight in the war. To Aileen's family this is a betrayal of Niall's heritage. To the men of the family he is a traitor & Aileen is forbidden to see him again.

Parts of the book are told from 4o years in the future when Aileen is happily married & living in New York although we do not know who she has married!

I enjoyed this book. The character's were engaging & it shone a light on how the people of Ireland viewed the war.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Loved it.
I love a good historical read and this one didn't disappoint me.
I love how the author described the war through out the eyes of irish people. I enjoyed it very much and I recommend it for people who like a good historical books that take places in the war. I was always fascinated about how people lived back then in that periodof time and I really enjoy reading those kind of books. Thank you netgalley and the publisher giving me a chance to read this book.

A book set in World War 2 and based in Ireland. It was enjoyable and an easy read. It was interesting to read more about the emotions of the time about Irish soldiers joining the British army & how they were treated. It was not a heavy or serious read by any means though.

I rather liked the cover, which initially drew my attention to this book. I very much enjoyed this story and do hope to read more by this author. Very well written and do recommend.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Rachel Quinn. The story is set during The second world war. It set in southern Ireland and tells the story of Aileen. She is 18 when she meets Niall who joins the British Army. Aileen family disapprove and make it difficult for them to be together. I liked the characters, Aileen was very likeable. I enjoyed the book as it was well written. Perfect for fans of family dramas and historical fiction.

It is 1943 and the world is at war. In a small town in IrelandAileen Sweeney and Niall O'Rourke meet at a dance. She was 18 at the time and he was a soldier. And like the world at war, theirs was an instant explosion of love. Yet, not long after their promise to commit to one another, they were rocked with a decision testing their love and commitment to one another. He had joined the British army. Called a traitor to Ireland by Aileen's father, he was no longer welcome to their house, Aileen was no longer allowed to see him. Could they survive that decision that set them apart, from Niall being a suitor one day to becoming far removed from Aileen and her family? This was the core of the entire book!

For me, after reading many historical books about Ireland, this one was less than stellar. With no substance behind it, I found it too simplistic. I finished it, not because I liked it, but because I felt I owed the publisher and NetGalley something for requesting it. Therefore, I will give my thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating insight into Ireland's often overlooked wartime role, which really give the plot a unique dimension. Loved the characters and the storytelling, brilliant writing. I hope to read a lot more of Rachel Quinn's historical novels as this one was a blinder. If like me, you love wartime historical novels, you'll love this one!

It is 1943 & Europe is in the middle of WW2. Ireland is neutral but the troubles with Britain are still very much alive in the minds of many Irish people. Eighteen year old Aileen Sweeney longs to spread her wings. When she meets Irish soldier Niall she initially thinks him too brash but his persistence wins her round. He seems to get on well with her large family too. There appears to be a wedding in sight until Niall & his mates decide to join the British Army to fight in the war. To Aileen's family this is a betrayal of Niall's heritage. To the men of the family he is a traitor & Aileen is forbidden to see him again.

I loved this story and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Quinn and Lake Union Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed learning about this part of modern Irish history; which I knew nothing about.
I really enjoyed the main characters and I loved how the story evolved. I thought the book was well written and the two different era's flowed well. Also the fact that we didn't know who Aileen's husband was when she was living in New York.

I loved this book. Set in Ireland during the war. Perfect historical romance novel with some heartache due to choices made. You won’t regret reading this book!
Reviewed on Goodreads, also.

I was excited for this one based on the synopsis but unfortunately it fell flat for me. This one didn't work for me when I tried to read it and I ended up DNF at 15%

I am a huge fan of books about WWII. This was a different view in that it focused on the people of Ireland during the war. To be honest, I was appalled at the level of bigotry against the Irish lads who chose to fight with Britain. The dual time line was a positive aspect of the book as well as being left in the dark about part of Aileen’s present day situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Just when you think you’ve learnt everything about WW2 another book pops up to prove you wrong. I do enjoy historical fiction but this one lent slightly more towards a romance but it was quite a pleasant read. I had no idea that Ireland treated their citizens as deserters if they joined the British in fighting the war, which carried on long after the war ended. The bond and loyalty between the sisters was heartwarming even when the rest of their family were against them. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Lake Union Publishing for letting me read and review this book.