Between Two Seas

by Marie-Louise Jensen

'Travel to Skagen and find him. Give him my letter. Seek a better life, Marianne! Promise!' Bound by a vow made to her dying mother, Marianne sells her few belongings and leaves Grimsby. Her destination? Denmark, where she will search for her father, Lars Christensen-the golden-haired fisherman her mother fell in love with many years before. The journey will be long-and dangerous for a young girl travelling alone. As Marianne boards the fishing boat that will carry her across the North Sea, she will Denmark be the fairy-tale land she has dreamt of? Will she find happiness there? Will the father she has never met welcome the arrival of his illegitimate child? And why didn't he return for her mother, as he promised he would?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2008

About the author

Born Marie-Louise Chalcraft in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on September 22nd 1964.

I attended a string of state schools, including Chiltern Edge in Oxfordshire. Once my family moved down to Bath in 1979, I attended Fitzmaurice and St Laurence schools in Bradford on Avon. Throughout my primary school years I was constantly told off for reading secretly and writing long stories instead of completing maths sheets. I’m not sure any of my teachers ever read my stories, but I had a lot of books taken away. When I was eleven, one teacher confiscated Lord of the Rings in the middle of the Battle of Helm’s Deep, and I nearly suffered severe psychological damage waiting a week to find out if Aragorn survived.
My A-levels were in German, French and English and I went on to study German and Danish with literature at the University of East Anglia.

I did more studying and various translating and teaching jobs, including teaching at a university in Germany for four years. Then I returned to Britain to be a full time mother and home educator. These were the years in which I overcame my education and regained my creativity. I read lots and started writing again.

In 2004-5, I took the MA in Writing for Young People at the Bath Spa University. I passed with distinction and was lucky enough to be taken on by an agent, Rosemary Canter at United Agents and a publisher (Oxford University Press) soon after.

Reviews

[†☻☯★GothicPrincess (aka alixx )★☯☻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was sort of spoiled at the end with the marriage, as that was sort of predictable! and it was so darn slow that I ended up lossing my page when I fell asleep, but it is a good book by her on all other accounts; which I enjoyed.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story very much. Marianne's journey from England to Denmark to find her father is very well told and the conflict she finds, and the relationships she builds are lovingly told with warmth and honesty.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fail to see what is so captivating about this book that warrants it high ratings. This was the second Marie-Louise Jensen book I read, the first being the Lady in the Tower (A book I loved) but this book seemed to have exactly the same characteristics as the first. Loving devoted mother torn away from the girl, an unlikable father who fails to redeem himself at all.

The romance of this book failed to capture me, Peter seems like a brooding teenage boy of the 21st century, rather than a rustic teenage boy im sure Jensen was going for.

I found it easy to read, and got through it rather quickly, but the fact remains that this book is easy to forget because you never connected with the main character of Marianna, in fact I was rooting for her to do the complete opposite to what she was doing through the book. Jensen wanted to portray a strong, independent girl, and I never felt that was the case.

[Marta]

I did not have art this term and we were doing our exams. Art was last but I did not have to do it so I needed to do something for the hour. My friend was doing the test and gave me this book to read. I only read about 70 pages in the 1 hour but I found the book really interesting and I eant to read it as fast as possible. I hope no one has reserved it and that she finishes reading it really quickly.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought that this book was quite a gripping book but not quite enough so for me.

[Ann Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story. Marianne had lived 16 years of her life in Grimsby in very impoverished circumstances. There is only herself and her mother. When sadly her mother dies Marianne sets off for a new life in Denmark to try to find her father who she never knew. Once in Denmark Marianne does manage to make a new life for herself, an improving life. Does Marianne ever meet her father? You will have to read the book to find out!

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it really isn't the adventure the blurb says it is. It's a nice quiet book about finding and making your home. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't spent a majority of the book wondering when something dramatic was going to happen.

[Ellie Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go to book if I want a comfort read. I’ve read it over and over so many times and it’s a book I hold close to my heart. The plot twists are amazing and it grips you from the start.

[Hollycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read about a young girl that on her journey to discover her parentage, showing determination and bravery despite her unfortunate circumstances. Would recommend this book to everyone!

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back in school and reading it again was nice. It was good that she didn’t forgive her father at the end, I think a lot of books of this type would go for that, so that’s nice to see.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book I read by Marie-Louise Jensen and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the originality of the story.
It follows a girl who travels overseas to find her father after her mother dies, but when she arrives at this foreign country, she finds out her father is dead. She finds no point in returning back to her poor home in England, so she begins to work so she can save money and move. But the longer she spends there, the more she feels like she belongs, and begins to fall in love with the scenery and one man. Soon she has to decide whether to follow a painter to Paris to live her dream and get out of the dead-end village or to stay where people care about her and love her.
The only part I didn't like about the book was that you didn't see them fall in love. You saw them struggle to get together but for me, the best part of a romance is the falling in love part. That is my only critism. Other than that the book is a very ennjoyable read with a huge twist at the end.....

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jensen's heroines seem to possess remarkable strength - girls who really stand up for themselves and are comfortable with who they are. Marianne does have some things to settle, like the mystery of her absentee father, but the small town she lands in works for her, and instead of whining and complaining she figures things out bit by bit. The romance is cute, although quick - I'm not a huge fan of love at first sight, but it worked out alright. I think the thing that made me rear back a bit was the climactic scene at the end with...well, I don't want to spoil it for you. I just felt that this kind of character with her strength and growth from the past year would be a more forgiving person - even if it was just being too tired to stay upset anymore.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The characters were fantastic and I had extreme opinions on them. I came to love a lot of them. I love how the story is just a diary for the mostpart, but nearer the end, that's where the fun really begins. The SHOCK* (don't want to tell spoilers) nearer the end was everything I hoped for, but I haden't expected it until just before it was actually written before my eyes. I am really pleased with this book and shall read it plenty more times. It's wonderful. I'd reccommend it. I loved the story, the characters... oh, and the ENDING. Wonderful. I put this book down, feeling as if I'd just lost a friend. I loved Marianne. I loved it.

[SBC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite liked the first few chapters, the descriptions of the settings and life in the past. However, I got lost in the saggy middle. I found it hard to believe that a character who'd spent her life being persecuted for being a bastard and been upset by people's accusations at her mother's character would risk getting branded all over again as a whore herself when she was in a new community with a new start. Other than that, the twist at the end was good.

[Read With Tarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

On her mother’s deathbed, Marianne makes a huge promise to her mother. She promises to leave her home in Grimsby & to travel to Skagen in Denmark to search for her father (whom she’s never met).

My Thoughts:

This is the second book I’ve read by Jensen & I really liked it. I loved Marianne & Mikkel’s friendship. I also liked Jensen’s descriptions of Skagen as well. So much that I’m now tempted to go there. Cheers Jensen! 😊

My Rating: * * * *

[Kirsty Diggory]

this is such an easy read and at times gets to the back of your throat. you really feel for marianne because she thinks shw haa lost everybody but she keeps her promise to her mother and she makes new friends. she jumps over every hurdle in her way.such a brilliant book that i have read three times now and still never get bored

[Elen Caldecott · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the blurb I was expecting a quest-story, but this was much more than that. The descriptions of the people and landscape were rich and engaging. There is such a strong sense of place (and a strange place at that) which grounds the whole novel. I can't wait for the next book!

[Christine Byleveld · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started the book, and wanted to put it down. The story was a little bit dull with only the narrator to rely on events. But when she arrives in Skagen, and started to meet the town people and making friends, the story strengthens. I enjoyed it - friendship, loyalty and acceptance of who you are.

[Zouk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice writing. Great story. I couldn't put it down.

[Gennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't captured at the beginning, but I really enjoyed it towards the end.

[Carrie Etter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to be reading this at last, I'm enjoying it immensely.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also liked this book, but not quite as much as The Lady In The Tower. It was well written, and the characters seemed alive, but I didn't like the story-line quite as much. Still a very good book.

[Selah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also liked this book, but not quite as much as The Lady In The Tower. It was well written, and the characters seemed alive, but I didn't like the story-line quite as much. Still a very good book.

[Curious Madra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most BRILLANT masterpiece I have ever read in my entire life

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful and touching book, and would recommend it to anyone!

[Scarlette Thorn · Rating 1 out of 5]

RUBBISH, predictable and poorly writen. DO NOT BE BEWITCHED BY THIS BOOKS FRANKLY BRILLIANT FRONT COVER!!!

[Soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. The first I've read by this author. Beautiful imagery and likeable characters.