No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky | Book Review

It’s not every day you read a book set near where you live—at least, for me this is true. That is just one reason No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky is a special story to me. (Local friends, you’re in for a treat.)

Check out the back cover blurb, then I’ll share my review.

Back Cover

A family long divided, a mysterious trunk, and a desperate journey across the ocean―all in the name of love. The epic saga of the McAlisters continues in this riveting sequel to No Ocean Too Wide.

In 1909, Grace McAlister set sail for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Though she is fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secrets of her past are kept hidden for ten years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth?
 
After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon―his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart.

My Review

No Journey Too Far, sequel to No Ocean Too Wide (check out my review), had so many of my favorite things in a novel: adventure, faith, mystery, suspense and a sweet love story (this one had two, actually). Add to it that this novel was set in my country and in my region? Now that’s quite something.

I’ve been eagerly waiting to read this novel. I was delighted to meet these characters again, to find out what happened to Garth and Grace.

I knew No Journey Too Far would break my heart as No Ocean Too Wide did. Often when you’re reading historical fiction, you realize the dark parts of history—and how many British Home Children were treated is indeed a dark part of Canada’s history. Of course, yes, there were some happy outcomes as well. I was happy to see some of those in No Journey Too Far. I appreciated Turansky sharing some of her research with readers at the end of the novel. And it was fun to see No Journey Too Far appear on British Home Children’s website.

Turansky’s captivating story of love, loss, redemption and hope had me cheering for Emma and Garth … and for Grace. I might have even been more captivated with Grace’s story somehow. Maybe it was because she had been missing for ten years (from the time she was just seven). Maybe I just liked her character. As much as I’d love to talk about that more, if I did, there would be spoilers. But I will say that there were bittersweet tears when certain reunions (and farewells) took place.

Fans of L.M. Montgomery need to check this series out! Historical/historical romance fans, you won’t want to miss out on this delightful, heart-wrenching series. Read with tissues handy.

I highly recommend you read No Ocean Too Wide first (amazon.ca, amazon.com). No Journey Too Far releases June 8th … you can pre-order it amazon.ca and amazon.com. If you are from Canada or the USA, and pre-order before June 7th, 2021, there’s a special offer I heard about … You can find out more about that here.

About the Author

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loved traveling to England to research her latest Edwardian novels including No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, Shine Like the Dawn, and Edwardian Brides series. Her next novel, No Journey Too Far, releases in June 2021. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal. They have been translated into several languages and enjoyed by readers around the world. Carrie loves to connect with reading friends on Facebook, Instagram, and via her website and blog: carrieturansky.com.

Note: I received an e-copy of this novel through netgalley for my honest review.