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A Heart across the Ocean
Fate cannot escape its guilty charge. Should the truth be discovered, the night watchman could detain Madeleine Bourbonnais once more...
A ward of King Louis XIV, Madeleine escapes from a Parisian hospital by accepting the king's dowry, which frees her to immigrate to New France and secure a husband. Given her past and her condition, she's an unlikely candidate for the filles du Roi initiative, but when she arrives in the new world, she ashamedly accepts the admiration of a brave officer, hoping this handsome man could be the remedy for her misfortune.
A Captain in the Carignan-Sali�res Regiment and a second son, Julian Benoit would never inherit the family estate, so he travelled to New France to serve and protect the French colony from Iroquois conflicts. When his commanding officer forces the statute of marriage, he complies with the edict, succumbing to a pretty mademoiselle, but he's ill-equipped for her hidden truth.
Will Madeleine accept the challenges waiting to be borne in the new world? Can Julian recognize that this is the woman he's been waiting for, and take her deeper into his heart and the demanding life of the Canadian wilderness, or annul their marriage and send her back to France, gambling the lives of all involved?
A ward of King Louis XIV, Madeleine escapes from a Parisian hospital by accepting the king's dowry, which frees her to immigrate to New France and secure a husband. Given her past and her condition, she's an unlikely candidate for the filles du Roi initiative, but when she arrives in the new world, she ashamedly accepts the admiration of a brave officer, hoping this handsome man could be the remedy for her misfortune.
A Captain in the Carignan-Sali�res Regiment and a second son, Julian Benoit would never inherit the family estate, so he travelled to New France to serve and protect the French colony from Iroquois conflicts. When his commanding officer forces the statute of marriage, he complies with the edict, succumbing to a pretty mademoiselle, but he's ill-equipped for her hidden truth.
Will Madeleine accept the challenges waiting to be borne in the new world? Can Julian recognize that this is the woman he's been waiting for, and take her deeper into his heart and the demanding life of the Canadian wilderness, or annul their marriage and send her back to France, gambling the lives of all involved?
280 pages, Paperback
Published February 21, 2018
293 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Kassian
13 books35 followersSHELLEY KASSIAN has been writing timeless love stories filled with romance or dark fantasy (romantasy) for more than twenty years, novels that include her recent beach read, A Sea for Summer. A history enthusiast, she’s traveled far and wide to explore secret gardens and medieval castles, having an avid interest in the Tudor period. Her prose has been described as “near rhapsodic,” “pitch perfect,” and “stylishly straightforward, rarely relying on complex turns of phrase.” Reviewers have said her narrative conveys “imaginative fantasy,” “fascinating characters,” and “refreshing romance.”
Shelley’s taken creative writing courses, holds board positions within professional associations, and retains a Professional Editing Certificate. Drawing on her expertise, she has mentored novice writers, but her passion comes alive while scribing her stories into novel-length fiction. Shelley shares her life with her husband, adores her adult children and three grand pups, and when not relaxing at her seaside cottage, lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Shelley’s taken creative writing courses, holds board positions within professional associations, and retains a Professional Editing Certificate. Drawing on her expertise, she has mentored novice writers, but her passion comes alive while scribing her stories into novel-length fiction. Shelley shares her life with her husband, adores her adult children and three grand pups, and when not relaxing at her seaside cottage, lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 3, 2019
New France, an adventure in love
A historical novel about a woman who is escaping her past and the soldier who catches her. Traveling across the Atlantic to find a husband, Madeline is beautiful and carries a secret within. Falling into the arms of a captain, Julian, she makes an impression on him.
Julian has finally given up all hope of marrying his beloved Catherine, but his commander demands he marry one of King's daughters, who are women of good breeding but few prospects. Enter Madeline, who literally falls into his arms.
She has a secret, but will that deter Julian? Once he finds out, will be abandon her? Or will this become a love match?
It is a romance without graphic sex scenes.. What intimate moments there are tender and sweet. The love story builds slowly, but is worth the drawn out tension between the pair.
A few misused words in the text and off turns of language, but it didn't distract too much...an example: the word prodigy should have been progeny.
Full disclosure: I received this romance through a First Reads Goodreads giveaway, but that in no way affected this review.
A historical novel about a woman who is escaping her past and the soldier who catches her. Traveling across the Atlantic to find a husband, Madeline is beautiful and carries a secret within. Falling into the arms of a captain, Julian, she makes an impression on him.
Julian has finally given up all hope of marrying his beloved Catherine, but his commander demands he marry one of King's daughters, who are women of good breeding but few prospects. Enter Madeline, who literally falls into his arms.
She has a secret, but will that deter Julian? Once he finds out, will be abandon her? Or will this become a love match?
It is a romance without graphic sex scenes.. What intimate moments there are tender and sweet. The love story builds slowly, but is worth the drawn out tension between the pair.
A few misused words in the text and off turns of language, but it didn't distract too much...an example: the word prodigy should have been progeny.
Full disclosure: I received this romance through a First Reads Goodreads giveaway, but that in no way affected this review.
February 24, 2018
I was very excited to have the chance to read and review Heart Across the Ocean. I hadn't read Shelley Kassian previously, but I was very interested to do so after reading the synopsis for this book. I was ready to learn more about French Canadian history and life through the reading of this novel.
I was intrigued by Madeleine's secret right from the start. As the truth of what she was hiding started to come out, my heart ached for what she had been made to endure. I was also sad for her lack of hope as she sailed for New France. I wanted to believe that better and happier awaited her, but it was difficult, especially given her outlook on the situation.
Chapter 5 really had my pulse racing and gave me a deeper appreciation for Marie. I was pleased with the outcome and hoped that things would work out for Madeleine once they made landfall. I was very invested in her story and knowing what would/could happen next.
After her arrival in New France, things seemed to move quickly for Madeleine and Julian. I was on the edge of my seat and eager to see how things would go for them with so many secrets to be revealed and many complications of sorts upon them. As Julian probed for the truth and it was shared piece by piece, I wanted nothing more than for him to be accepting of that which was out of Madeleine's power or control. I wanted a fresh start for her there in her new land. It took a while for the final truths to come out, but when it did I had to applaud Julian's behavior. It made me fall for him a bit myself. I was very pleased as they slowly made progress and opened up to one another. They had many challenges yet to face, but at least they were set to face them together. I very much enjoyed watching them grow closer and closer.
A Heart Across the Ocean was well-written and very entertaining. The characters were fabulous and the story did a great job of transporting me to another time and place. I can't wait to check out Kassian's other books.
I was intrigued by Madeleine's secret right from the start. As the truth of what she was hiding started to come out, my heart ached for what she had been made to endure. I was also sad for her lack of hope as she sailed for New France. I wanted to believe that better and happier awaited her, but it was difficult, especially given her outlook on the situation.
Chapter 5 really had my pulse racing and gave me a deeper appreciation for Marie. I was pleased with the outcome and hoped that things would work out for Madeleine once they made landfall. I was very invested in her story and knowing what would/could happen next.
After her arrival in New France, things seemed to move quickly for Madeleine and Julian. I was on the edge of my seat and eager to see how things would go for them with so many secrets to be revealed and many complications of sorts upon them. As Julian probed for the truth and it was shared piece by piece, I wanted nothing more than for him to be accepting of that which was out of Madeleine's power or control. I wanted a fresh start for her there in her new land. It took a while for the final truths to come out, but when it did I had to applaud Julian's behavior. It made me fall for him a bit myself. I was very pleased as they slowly made progress and opened up to one another. They had many challenges yet to face, but at least they were set to face them together. I very much enjoyed watching them grow closer and closer.
A Heart Across the Ocean was well-written and very entertaining. The characters were fabulous and the story did a great job of transporting me to another time and place. I can't wait to check out Kassian's other books.
February 14, 2018
New France
Madeleine Bourbonnnais life is turned upside down when her previously well-to-do parents die leaving her all alone and owing creditors as her brothers date is unknown. She becomes a wars of King Louis XIV and is shipped to New France with a dowry to marry a soldier and populate the country.
This really a lovely romance with well drawn characters and very few sex scenes. Personally I look forward to reading this as a series showing what happened to the other ladies from the boat and the settlements.
Thanks to Goodreads for the book to review.
Madeleine Bourbonnnais life is turned upside down when her previously well-to-do parents die leaving her all alone and owing creditors as her brothers date is unknown. She becomes a wars of King Louis XIV and is shipped to New France with a dowry to marry a soldier and populate the country.
This really a lovely romance with well drawn characters and very few sex scenes. Personally I look forward to reading this as a series showing what happened to the other ladies from the boat and the settlements.
Thanks to Goodreads for the book to review.
October 21, 2018
A sometimes painful, but beautifully written book. I learned just this year, as an adoptee, that I am a descendant of at least 40 Filles du Roi and many Carignan-Salieres soldiers. This book was an important read for me and I did enjoy the detail of the love, pain and sacrifice my ancestors experienced. I just returned from 4 days in Quebec City and I was envisioning their arrival and where they found one another. I loved the parallel paths Madeleine and Julian and my French Canadian ancestors.
July 29, 2018
A truly unexpected storyline that captures you from the very beginning. I learned so much from this book and now I want to learn more. A great historical romance that definitely isn’t cookie cutter!! I enjoyed every minute of this book and highly recommend that you give it a chance!! You won’t be disappointed!!
February 20, 2021
This was supposed to be a story about women who were sent to be brides to soldiers in the new French colony of Quebec. It was a part of history I hadn't heard of beforehand I was fascinated to find out more. I'd still like to know about what happened in those times.
The beginning is confusing. The author was so busy trying to set a tone that she failed to create a scene. She also tried to hard to make her characters sound like they were from the past. It didn't work.
The basic story is Madeline is an being sent to Quebec to find a husband with a dowry given to her by the King of France. What she really wants to do is find a husband for her baby so the world won't see her as a whore for performing a sex act to pay off her dead father's debts.
Julian is an officer in Quebec who plans on returning to France to marry his betrothed. Instead he is "forced" by his commander to cancel his engagement and pick a bride from the incoming ship. He picks Madeleine because she is pretty after being on a terrible see voyage unable to eat anything and pregnant.
None of the characters are developed well. Madeline cones off as arrogant misanthropist. Julian seemed like a wimp who let other people make his decisions. I have no idea why Madeline and Marie were friends. I have no idea why the ship's doctor was willing to lie for Madeline. I don't know why Julian wasn't pressured into bringing his fiancé to New France instead of being forced to break his engagement.
I supposed the author tried to show different sides of the story's dilemma but it was more like preaching what the author thought was the correct answer.
When I read a historical novel, I want to feel like I'm in that time period. From this book I know nothing. I have no idea what Paris was like, I have no idea what the voyage was like, and I have no idea what the colony was like. I couldn't even tell what the time period was supposed to be without looking it up. The worst part was when the main characters got 20th century wedding.
About a third of the way through I started getting bored. When I got to the tirade about how Julian was to blame for Madeline's lies because all man are pigs and all women are victims, I couldn't take it anymore. DNF Still want to find a real book about this period of Canadian history.
The beginning is confusing. The author was so busy trying to set a tone that she failed to create a scene. She also tried to hard to make her characters sound like they were from the past. It didn't work.
The basic story is Madeline is an being sent to Quebec to find a husband with a dowry given to her by the King of France. What she really wants to do is find a husband for her baby so the world won't see her as a whore for performing a sex act to pay off her dead father's debts.
Julian is an officer in Quebec who plans on returning to France to marry his betrothed. Instead he is "forced" by his commander to cancel his engagement and pick a bride from the incoming ship. He picks Madeleine because she is pretty after being on a terrible see voyage unable to eat anything and pregnant.
None of the characters are developed well. Madeline cones off as arrogant misanthropist. Julian seemed like a wimp who let other people make his decisions. I have no idea why Madeline and Marie were friends. I have no idea why the ship's doctor was willing to lie for Madeline. I don't know why Julian wasn't pressured into bringing his fiancé to New France instead of being forced to break his engagement.
I supposed the author tried to show different sides of the story's dilemma but it was more like preaching what the author thought was the correct answer.
When I read a historical novel, I want to feel like I'm in that time period. From this book I know nothing. I have no idea what Paris was like, I have no idea what the voyage was like, and I have no idea what the colony was like. I couldn't even tell what the time period was supposed to be without looking it up. The worst part was when the main characters got 20th century wedding.
About a third of the way through I started getting bored. When I got to the tirade about how Julian was to blame for Madeline's lies because all man are pigs and all women are victims, I couldn't take it anymore. DNF Still want to find a real book about this period of Canadian history.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews