Seeing Beyond the Ocean

by Jane C.R. Reid

Feeling like one of society’s misfits, Enya has always struggled to conform to people’s expectations of her, and as a teenager, the sudden revelation of her adoption does little to improve her self-confidence. When she moves with her parents to a Tudor house, the timbers of which are from a ship of that era, having an innate sensitivity and an uncanny affinity for water, she finds herself accosted by a series of alarming dreams and visions.

Tristan enters her life as a beacon of hope, but even he can’t protect Enya from her demons as she tries her best to fit into a world where the tide always seems to be against her. As her troubles escalate, she takes the plunge by heeding a calling to move to the ocean, where she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Drawing inspiration from the sea, her love of painting evolves into a magical process, enhancing her self-acceptance through her creativity.

Yet the ceaseless tides of the ocean remind us that change is inevitable. As summer's light fades, giving way to winter’s shadow, will the magic ensue or dissipate into a trail of dust?

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2024

About the author

Jane is a British novelist who is passionate about writing. Her aim is not just to entertain but also to inspire and provoke thought about life’s dilemmas and challenges through fiction. Spanning multiple genres, including contemporary, historical, fantasy, romance, paranormal, and alternate dimensions, her works are renowned for their layered characters, immersive worlds, drama, intrigue, and lyrical prose.

To follow Jane, click on the link below

https://Subscribepage.io/eMRV7i

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing Beyond the Ocean is a tender, beautifully told tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the subtle magic of finding one’s true place. Following Enya’s path—from feeling out of place to embracing her art and deep bond with the sea—Jane C.R. Reid blends themes of identity, healing, and transformation with warmth and sincerity. The ocean scenes are rich and calming, and the characters, from Tristan to the faithful Bambi, are vivid and relatable. Poignant yet uplifting, it’s a gentle reminder that life’s roughest tides can guide us toward our most authentic selves.

[L. Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balancing in between dream and reality, ‘Seeing Beyond the Ocean’ by Jane C.R. Reid follows the journey of a young woman’s self discovery as she explores her own life and the metaphysical forces of the world. If you are a lover of beautiful prose I would highly recommend this, and if you love beautiful prose and the contemporary fantasy genre, I could not recommend this more!

[Linda Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing the Tides of Change — A Moving Read

Seeing Beyond the Ocean is the second book I’ve read from Jane C.R. Reid, and I continue to love her unique writing style — how she weaves together elements of the mystical, emotional, and deeply human all in one story.

I connected with Enya’s journey, especially her struggle to feel like she fits in after discovering she was adopted. As someone who’s adopted myself, those feelings of being different, questioning where you belong — they hit close to home.

I also loved how the ocean, water, and creativity played such a significant role in her healing. There’s something so relatable about how nature, especially the sea, can become a place of peace and self-discovery.

This story resonated with me on a personal level for another reason as well. We recently had to say goodbye to our 14-year-old dog, and reading this book during that time, the theme of grief and healing stuck with me. As the book reminds us, time is a great healer — even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.

Enya’s growth, through all her trials and uncertainties, is a beautiful reminder that often, the most challenging moments in life lead to the most profound self-discovery.

[S.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enya is on the brink of womanhood. She’s never seemed to fit in—anywhere. She’s just different and has never connected with her school mates, her family, or her co-workers. Her life changes when she meets Tristan. He’s not part of the mainstream either. He introduces her to meditation and a different way of viewing life. They form a strong friendship—her first real friend.

Told from a first-person narrative, I was instantly drawn into the story. As Enya’s sense of confidence grows, I found myself cheering for her newfound self-worth. She moves away from home, finds a new job, and develops a new passion for art. Things are going better than she’d ever expected or believed possible. For the first time in her life, she feels alive and in control. Of course, in real life, she learns you can’t control everything. You can only control how you react.

I enjoyed the story—the good, the bad, and the sad. Well done.

[Amber Daulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

After learning she’s been adopted, Enya and her parents move into an old house whose beams used to belong to a ship. She has an affinity for water and a sensitivity to the paranormal, so the house is now influencing her dreams. When a strange calling she cannot deny takes her to the ocean, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will change everything she’s ever known.
Enya is such a smart, strong-willed woman. Even if she can’t pinpoint why, she knows deep inside when something feels off, like her shaky relationship with her parents. Tristan and Helen are interesting secondary characters who give Enya depth and add to the narrative.
This is just a personal thing for me, but the use of single quotation marks around dialogue was distracting at first. As I kept reading, I eventually learned to accept it.
Anyway, this is fantasy story is sure to please readers of who like a mix of psychic abilities, water power, and metaphysics.
4 Stars

[J.R. Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, and reading about how Enya progresses from seeing herself a social misfit to being able to find happiness for herself.

When I first read the plot of this book, about Enya moving to a Tudor house made of ship's timber and having dreams about the harsh lives of the Tudor sailors, I originally thought that the story was going to be about Enya travelling back to Tudor times and finding her confidence through some adventure there. But as the plot progressed, from Enya's time working at the garden centre to meeting Tristan and learning about Buddhism and painting, finding a new job, moving into her Aunt's house by the sea and making new friends, overall I thought it was a very heart-warming story.

The ending of the book is bittersweet, so as not to give away any spoilers it's tragic but happy at the same time.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing Beyond the Ocean is a fascinating story of Enya, who can't understand her association with water and drifts into the world of fantasy through her dreams and visions. She finds a strange solace in the ocean and the rain. Her paintings are based on sensitive topics and derive inspiration from the ocean.

The first-person narration gives Enya’s story a touch of realism, though most of the theme is highly imaginative. Character development is the main focus. Despite a low self-esteem in the beginning, the protagonist evolves into a confident and self-sufficient person. Helen and Tristan play a significant role in molding her character.

This book is a mishmash of reality, fantasy, and philosophy, but the ending is sudden, unexpected, and cryptic. I was waiting for a better ending.

[Nora Rushwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fantasy elements weren't dramatic, but rather a more gentle way used to add to the story to explore certain themes while the main character finds herself. It's more of a mellow read, and slow start. Not fast paced at all so usual fantasy readers may find it slower. I also noticed that it had some tense changes. Also, reading on my kindle i tend to read on black backgrounds and at times it had blocks of light Grey text so I think that maybe accidental. If youre ok with a slower paced fantasy story more focused on emotion and meaning, you can give this a shot.

[Joseph Minart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing Beyond the Ocean (Kindle Edition) by Jane C.R. Reid was a good story between Enya and Tristen, including the dog, Bambi, that I kept on reminiscing about how to live by the sea, how to find oneself at a personal level, and how to be in a relationship among the characters. I didn't expect the ending, too.

[Shahzaib Shaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book beautifully blends fantasy and reality as Enya navigates her internal struggles, guided by her love for painting and a deep connection to the sea. It’s a touching story about finding strength in change and the magic of self-acceptance. A must-read for fans of emotional growth and magical realism!

[Whittney Corum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reid creates a tale that is a mix of sadness but also the joy of finding one self. It's a book for those who enjoy thinking about the big picture