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Crossing Oceans
Jenny Lucas swore she'd never go home again. But being told you're dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank-toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella's dad . . . Who doesn't yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything--to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . Even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.
382 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2010
215 people are currently reading
3303 people want to read
About the author
Gina Holmes
7 books184 followersGina Holmes is the founder of Novel Rocket.com. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, released in 2011 and was also named a Christy Award finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass, releases Feb 15, 2013. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose. To learn more about her, visit www.ginaholmes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 504 reviews
April 20, 2018
Amazing, outstanding, excellent, remarkable and highly recommended. Those are just some of the things I could say about this debut novel of Gina Holmes. When I bought this, I wasn't expecting that I will not stop turning the pages once I start reading it. I stayed up till 3 in the morning just to be able to finish this novel because I was really curious and excited about what will happen next.
This is the very first novel of Gina Holmes that I've read and I'm looking forward to reading her other books such as Dry as Rain and Wings of Glass.
This is the very first novel of Gina Holmes that I've read and I'm looking forward to reading her other books such as Dry as Rain and Wings of Glass.
April 5, 2011
Book Review: Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes
Reviewed by Serena Chase
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes is one of those rare novels – a book that gouges itself into your heart so completely – and in so many different ways – that you ache with the desire to put it down, but can’t seem to rip yourself away. If you finally do manage to pull yourself away (you must, after all, sleep!) you hesitate to pick the novel back up because you’re not sure you have anything left in your emotional reserves to give.
But you can’t stay away forever. The story is too compelling – too rich -- and the characters are too vulnerable and all too real to dismiss because of your own fear and weakness. So you pick up the book, cuddle up with your tissues, and dive back into Gina Holmes’s amazing debut.
The Sitch:
Jenny Lucas left home when her unexpected pregnancy became the insurmountable obstacle in her already tense relationship with her father. Almost six years later Jenny is forced to go back home and face not only her father, but David Preston, the high school sweetheart who rejected Jenny before he even knew she carried his child. As love and tragedy chase the Lucas family anew Jenny must decide what is best for her daughter – even if what is best for her child ends up breaking her own heart.
How it hit me:
Like a cannon loaded with onions. (In other words, I cried a lot and felt, at times, like my chest was going to cave in.)
Something gleaned from the Book Club Discussion:
For those of you who have not read this book yet, I tried to pick a question that wouldn’t require a spoiler alert. Here it is:
When David (Jenny’s first love/Isabella’s father) comes to pick up Isabella, he stops in the driveway and honks as he used to when he and Jenny were dating. Jenny tells us, “For the first time, I understood why the gesture used to infuriate my father.” What are some things you see differently as a parent, or simply as an adult, than you did as a child?
The honking Jenny once found to be an endearing announcement of her love’s arrival now reveals David’s lack of courtesy. In the eyes of a grown-up it is not evidence of “coolness” – rather, it is informative to David’s character in a less positive way. David believes he is the center of the universe and the honking is just a symptom of his expectation that when David Preston says, “Jump.” the world should respond with a collective “How high?”
As an adult I think we tend to more easily see through those mannerisms and behaviors we might have once interpreted as “cool.” With a more mature eye we are able to identify disrespect and discourtesy for what they really are: selfishness and insecurity. As a parent, I want more for my daughter than a self-centered ego maniac who expects her to cater to his schedule and whim. If he lacks the courtesy to even come up to the house, how will he respect her otherwise?
A lot of authors and screenwriters have tried to portray this sort of character by keeping them fixated on reliving their “glory days”, but in Crossing Oceans, Gina Holmes portrays that “cool kid” who never matured past adolescent self-centeredness in a fresh, more believable way.
To read or not to read; that is the question:
Well, duh. Read it. JUST READ IT, ALREADY!!!!
This is a fantastic book. Gina Holmes has firmly snagged a spot on my list of favorite authors. BUT (and there’s almost always a “but”, isn’t there?) I must add a warning to my hearty recommendation: if you’re looking for a light romance or a humor-ridden tale, this is not the book for you. Though it has its lighter moments, Crossing Oceans is the kind of novel which requires a personal investment of emotion. And if you have experienced the loss of a loved one recently, do be prepared to relive some of those emotions.
But that is, in part, why we read, isn’t it? To know that, in our darkest moments, we are not alone.
And finally, in the words of Inigo Montoya, “No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” Gina Holmes’s debut novel will take your emotions to the breaking point -- but leave your heart open and changed by the splendor and hope within. Crossing Oceans is a beautiful and unique coming-of-age story that should not be missed.
This review first appeared at www.edgyinspirationalromance.com where Serena Chase is a contributor.
March 17, 2012
This is an amazing novel for any author to have written, but the fact that it's Gina Holmes' debut novel makes it that much more incredible. Just be sure to have one thing by your side at all times as you read it, a box of tissues! I am not kidding you. I have never had a book break my heart like this one did, nor cause me to mull over it so long after finishing it. (What is a reader to do when she longs to pray for and hug the neck of fictional characters?!) Not that it is morose in its telling. On the contrary, it is an achingly tender story. Jenny and her precious daughter, Isabella, walked right off of the pages and into my heart. As I progressed further into the book and the layers of sorrow and love intertwined, I couldn't fathom how the story could end in any satisfying manner. And if this were a secular title, that would be true. But God infuses hope and grace at each of life's most fragile turns for the believer, and Gina Holmes has gently and expertly woven Truth into this book. While the book literally made my heart hurt and brought me to tears, the last sentence left me with a smile. And that is all I will tell you! You absolutely MUST get this book.
December 8, 2010
When I turned the last page and sat back in my chair, the only word I could think of to describe this book is…wow. Heartrenching, gripping, can’t-put-it-down kind of story that as a reader makes my heart glad to have the chance to read this book. It has a once in a life time quality to it that will make this story a best seller. It already is. It has that great of an impact.
With a reminiscence of Nicholas Spark’s A Walk to Remember, CROSSING OCEANS is the story of a young mother dying of cancer and the journey she must take to prepare her five year old daughter. You might already be throwing the idea of this book out, right? Too depressing. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Jenny has a sense of humor and a way of looking at the world that brings the reader into the middle of the story with her. By the first couple of chapters my heart was already wrenching for her as she slowly gave up her worldly existence. But there is hope in this story, a hope that cannot be found in secular fiction because of the hope in Christ. This book goes beyond mere life and death, this book taps into the reader’s emotions. I felt anger, sadness, joy, the full gauntlet in this well written and poignant novel. This is one book that will stick with me for years to come.
If there is one book you read this year, this needs to be it. It will change the way you look at all other books and the life you live, making each moment count…for Christ.
With a reminiscence of Nicholas Spark’s A Walk to Remember, CROSSING OCEANS is the story of a young mother dying of cancer and the journey she must take to prepare her five year old daughter. You might already be throwing the idea of this book out, right? Too depressing. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Jenny has a sense of humor and a way of looking at the world that brings the reader into the middle of the story with her. By the first couple of chapters my heart was already wrenching for her as she slowly gave up her worldly existence. But there is hope in this story, a hope that cannot be found in secular fiction because of the hope in Christ. This book goes beyond mere life and death, this book taps into the reader’s emotions. I felt anger, sadness, joy, the full gauntlet in this well written and poignant novel. This is one book that will stick with me for years to come.
If there is one book you read this year, this needs to be it. It will change the way you look at all other books and the life you live, making each moment count…for Christ.
July 19, 2011
This book was just ok for me. I think Gina is a terrific writer, but some of it was a bit over the top. Sorry to include spoiler's, but I just couldn't make my point without them. I thought the writing was witty and heartfelt, but when you have a character who says to someone that is dying of cancer, "The cancer must've gone to your brain" that was a bit much for me. Also, here you have a dying woman who is on crutches from an injury, and she has to get up in the middle of the night (with her dad) to go over to her daughter's dad's house to pick the child up because she's screaming uncontrollably?! Seriously?! Why couldn't he/they just bring Isabella home to her mother? David was such a jerk in the book. There was absolutely nothing about this character that I liked. Jenny's jealousy of David's wife was a bit tiring as well. I didn't like how Jenny basically let her last wishes and days be dictated by Isabella's father. I could go on and on, but I won't. I enjoyed the book enough to finish it, and I would read another Gina Holmes novel, but I can't honestly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
Maybe all of us have asked the question at one time or another, “Is there more to life than this?” One of my favorite country songs says it this way, “You know I’m more and more convinced the longer that I live that this can’t be–No, this can’t be. No, this can’t be all there is!” (from Believe)
A book I read recently brought this strongly to mind. It put me through an emotional wringer (for reasons I might share in a future post) and sent me to my Bible to soak in some of God’s familiar promises. The novel is this month’s book club selection, Crossings Oceans by Gina Holmes.
One of the key relationships in the book is between Jenny and her dad. These two can’t even discuss the weather without throwing in digs and accusations.
The main source of misunderstanding between them stems from the fact that they’ve both been marked by watching beloved wife and mother, Audra, suffer the ravages of cancer. Since Jenny was a teen when her mother died, she sorely needed the comfort of her surviving parent, but her dad closed himself off behind a wall of bitterness. Only after many heartaches and wasted years, are they able to bridge the gap between them.
Look at how the following lines from the novel describe one of Jenny’s visits to her mother’s grave:
"I knelt on the grass, ignoring the lumpy ground pressing into my bare knees. Though some found it sacrilegious to set foot on a grave, let alone sit atop it, to me it was as close to my mother’s lap as I’d get on this side of heaven."
Even as an adult, Jenny longs for her mother. Audra’s death has shadowed her life. We’ve probably all read about the process of grieving and the steps involved, even if we’ve never experienced them. Yet, like Jenny and her father, we’re reticent to speak of it, deal with it, or prepare for it. But we don’t need to be if we’ll simply educate ourselves from a trustworthy source. The Bible says that we were created to live forever.
I believe deep down inside, we all know this to be true because God has placed eternity in our hearts. We find ourselves longing for permanence. We try to build things that will last forever: pyramids filled with mementos, towers that reach the sky, unsinkable ships. Yet eternity may only be found in Christ. Through Him, we’re promised a new heaven and a new earth.
Just think of it: all that we love and none of what we detest. No more crying, sickness, death, disease, abuse, power-struggles, tsunamis, earthquakes, unemployment, poverty—you name it!
And I also believe that the more firmly convinced we are of our salvation, of Christ holding our lives in His hands, the more confident we’ll feel that there’s more to life than this. Not that we’re eager to see our happy lives on earth end any time soon! But don’t we all want to know that there’s more to come? That this life is just prologue to an incredible future?
Jenny believes it. After witnessing her mother’s experience with death, she becomes convinced that there is life everlasting for the child of God. While at the grave, she thinks of this:
"I looked back down to her headstone. 'Here lie the remains of Audra Ann Lucas, beloved wife, daughter, friend. Do not mourn her, for she lives.' As if I hadn’t see these words a thousand times, I stared, amazed at the profoundness of them."
Jenny’s new perspective also gives her an appreciation for the beauty of life here on earth:
"I closed my eyes, letting the sun rays soak into my anemic flesh. They felt as nourishing to my soul as Isabella’s kisses or Mama Peg’s touch. The simple joy of breathing fresh air, feeling the sun and being among the green God created filled me with amazement. I scanned the trees with their heavy limbs, the grass cushion under me, and the wisps of white sailing on a sea of blue above. The simple grandeur of it all took my breath away. Placing a hand over my heart, I marveled at such beauty—so familiar and yet it felt new. I’d had all this at my disposal my entire life, but I’d never really appreciated it."
Jenny learns much from her mother’s death and comes to truly believe that she’ll see her again. Her epiphany reminded me of an old story told by Bible teacher and preacher J. Vernon McGee:
"There is a story of sweetness and beauty which enlightens the heart of every person who has lost a loved one to death. It concerns a custom among the shepherd folk of the Alps. In the summertime when the grass in the lower valleys withers and dries up, the shepherds seek to lead their sheep up a winding, thorny, and stony pathway to the high grazing lands. The sheep, reluctant to take the difficult pathway infested with dangers and hardships, turn back and will not follow. The shepherds make repeated attempts, but the timid sheep will not follow.
Finally a shepherd reaches into the flock and takes a lamb and places it under his arm, then reaches again and takes another lamb, placing it under the other arm. Then he starts up the precipitous pathway. Soon the mother sheep start to follow and afterward the entire flock. At last they ascend the torturous trail to green pastures."
The Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, has reached into the flock and He has picked up a lamb. He did not do it to rob you but to lead you out and upward. He has richer and greener pastures for you, and He wants you to follow. For as He promised:
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I [Christ] go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” ~John 14:2,3
Now that’s a promise you can build your life upon!
A book I read recently brought this strongly to mind. It put me through an emotional wringer (for reasons I might share in a future post) and sent me to my Bible to soak in some of God’s familiar promises. The novel is this month’s book club selection, Crossings Oceans by Gina Holmes.
One of the key relationships in the book is between Jenny and her dad. These two can’t even discuss the weather without throwing in digs and accusations.
The main source of misunderstanding between them stems from the fact that they’ve both been marked by watching beloved wife and mother, Audra, suffer the ravages of cancer. Since Jenny was a teen when her mother died, she sorely needed the comfort of her surviving parent, but her dad closed himself off behind a wall of bitterness. Only after many heartaches and wasted years, are they able to bridge the gap between them.
Look at how the following lines from the novel describe one of Jenny’s visits to her mother’s grave:
"I knelt on the grass, ignoring the lumpy ground pressing into my bare knees. Though some found it sacrilegious to set foot on a grave, let alone sit atop it, to me it was as close to my mother’s lap as I’d get on this side of heaven."
Even as an adult, Jenny longs for her mother. Audra’s death has shadowed her life. We’ve probably all read about the process of grieving and the steps involved, even if we’ve never experienced them. Yet, like Jenny and her father, we’re reticent to speak of it, deal with it, or prepare for it. But we don’t need to be if we’ll simply educate ourselves from a trustworthy source. The Bible says that we were created to live forever.
I believe deep down inside, we all know this to be true because God has placed eternity in our hearts. We find ourselves longing for permanence. We try to build things that will last forever: pyramids filled with mementos, towers that reach the sky, unsinkable ships. Yet eternity may only be found in Christ. Through Him, we’re promised a new heaven and a new earth.
Just think of it: all that we love and none of what we detest. No more crying, sickness, death, disease, abuse, power-struggles, tsunamis, earthquakes, unemployment, poverty—you name it!
And I also believe that the more firmly convinced we are of our salvation, of Christ holding our lives in His hands, the more confident we’ll feel that there’s more to life than this. Not that we’re eager to see our happy lives on earth end any time soon! But don’t we all want to know that there’s more to come? That this life is just prologue to an incredible future?
Jenny believes it. After witnessing her mother’s experience with death, she becomes convinced that there is life everlasting for the child of God. While at the grave, she thinks of this:
"I looked back down to her headstone. 'Here lie the remains of Audra Ann Lucas, beloved wife, daughter, friend. Do not mourn her, for she lives.' As if I hadn’t see these words a thousand times, I stared, amazed at the profoundness of them."
Jenny’s new perspective also gives her an appreciation for the beauty of life here on earth:
"I closed my eyes, letting the sun rays soak into my anemic flesh. They felt as nourishing to my soul as Isabella’s kisses or Mama Peg’s touch. The simple joy of breathing fresh air, feeling the sun and being among the green God created filled me with amazement. I scanned the trees with their heavy limbs, the grass cushion under me, and the wisps of white sailing on a sea of blue above. The simple grandeur of it all took my breath away. Placing a hand over my heart, I marveled at such beauty—so familiar and yet it felt new. I’d had all this at my disposal my entire life, but I’d never really appreciated it."
Jenny learns much from her mother’s death and comes to truly believe that she’ll see her again. Her epiphany reminded me of an old story told by Bible teacher and preacher J. Vernon McGee:
"There is a story of sweetness and beauty which enlightens the heart of every person who has lost a loved one to death. It concerns a custom among the shepherd folk of the Alps. In the summertime when the grass in the lower valleys withers and dries up, the shepherds seek to lead their sheep up a winding, thorny, and stony pathway to the high grazing lands. The sheep, reluctant to take the difficult pathway infested with dangers and hardships, turn back and will not follow. The shepherds make repeated attempts, but the timid sheep will not follow.
Finally a shepherd reaches into the flock and takes a lamb and places it under his arm, then reaches again and takes another lamb, placing it under the other arm. Then he starts up the precipitous pathway. Soon the mother sheep start to follow and afterward the entire flock. At last they ascend the torturous trail to green pastures."
The Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, has reached into the flock and He has picked up a lamb. He did not do it to rob you but to lead you out and upward. He has richer and greener pastures for you, and He wants you to follow. For as He promised:
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I [Christ] go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” ~John 14:2,3
Now that’s a promise you can build your life upon!
July 11, 2024
For a debut novel WOW can’t wait to see what she writes next. I am an excited FAN
August 16, 2023
This book….THISSSSS BOOOOOOOOK!!! I cried from start to finish…it was un predictable and really tugged at my mama heart especially because I have a five year old myself.
August 23, 2010
Crossing Oceans – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Remember that night in the car, David? I started to tell you, but you broke up with me first. You said things could never work for us. You told me our fathers would never get along. You told me you didn’t share my desire for having a family. How could I tell you you were going to be a father right after you said you never wanted children? When she was born, I called you from the hospital as I held her in my arms. I couldn’t wait to show you what we’d created, but your answering machine picked up and I heard “David and Lindsey Preston aren’t here to take your call…” I didn’t know you’d gotten married. It had been less than a years since we broke up. You wouldn’t believe the shock I felt, the betrayal, the pain… I didn’t want to cause trouble for you… I couldn’t….’
Jenny Lucas is the Prodigal Daughter returning home after walking away six years ago. David Preston had thrown her away when she needed him the most. When she was pregnant with their daughter Isabella. Now she’s bringing her daughter home to meet the family she’s never met, including her father. But Jenny isn’t renewing the relationship with her own father as well as David for old times’ sake. She’s doing it out of necessity. She must find a home for Bella because she is dying with cancer.
The Lucas', as well as the Preston family, have a lot of baggage to overcome. Jenny’s dad insists that David’s father killed her mother by misdiagnosing her illness. And her death is something that he’s never been able to get over making it difficult for him to get close to Jenny. So, hating the Preston family as much as he does, he insists that Bella should be raised by him. David, as well as his family, have to overcome the fact that Jenny has done something that he and his wife Lindsey haven’t been able to. She has given him a child, which has made him determined to have full custody of Isabella no matter what it takes. Bella, on the other hand, has to learn to give to others something she has only had to share with her mother… love. And while wading through these obstacles, everyone has to accept Jenny’s dying. Can they all put aside their differences and help Jenny and Bella make their transitions as comfortably and positive as possible?
I’ve never read a book quite as touching as Crossing Oceans. The characters are all written very strongly. Their courage, and sometimes lack of courage, is something that I think will stay with me for a long time in hopes that if I’m ever put into either of their positions, I can remember their strength exposed in Crossing Oceans It is one beautiful book.
Tyndal House Publishers
2010
390 Pages
ISBN# 978-1-4143-3305-2
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Remember that night in the car, David? I started to tell you, but you broke up with me first. You said things could never work for us. You told me our fathers would never get along. You told me you didn’t share my desire for having a family. How could I tell you you were going to be a father right after you said you never wanted children? When she was born, I called you from the hospital as I held her in my arms. I couldn’t wait to show you what we’d created, but your answering machine picked up and I heard “David and Lindsey Preston aren’t here to take your call…” I didn’t know you’d gotten married. It had been less than a years since we broke up. You wouldn’t believe the shock I felt, the betrayal, the pain… I didn’t want to cause trouble for you… I couldn’t….’
Jenny Lucas is the Prodigal Daughter returning home after walking away six years ago. David Preston had thrown her away when she needed him the most. When she was pregnant with their daughter Isabella. Now she’s bringing her daughter home to meet the family she’s never met, including her father. But Jenny isn’t renewing the relationship with her own father as well as David for old times’ sake. She’s doing it out of necessity. She must find a home for Bella because she is dying with cancer.
The Lucas', as well as the Preston family, have a lot of baggage to overcome. Jenny’s dad insists that David’s father killed her mother by misdiagnosing her illness. And her death is something that he’s never been able to get over making it difficult for him to get close to Jenny. So, hating the Preston family as much as he does, he insists that Bella should be raised by him. David, as well as his family, have to overcome the fact that Jenny has done something that he and his wife Lindsey haven’t been able to. She has given him a child, which has made him determined to have full custody of Isabella no matter what it takes. Bella, on the other hand, has to learn to give to others something she has only had to share with her mother… love. And while wading through these obstacles, everyone has to accept Jenny’s dying. Can they all put aside their differences and help Jenny and Bella make their transitions as comfortably and positive as possible?
I’ve never read a book quite as touching as Crossing Oceans. The characters are all written very strongly. Their courage, and sometimes lack of courage, is something that I think will stay with me for a long time in hopes that if I’m ever put into either of their positions, I can remember their strength exposed in Crossing Oceans It is one beautiful book.
Tyndal House Publishers
2010
390 Pages
ISBN# 978-1-4143-3305-2
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
May 15, 2010
Death has a way of forcing one’s hand, which is the only reason Jenny has come home. With her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, in tow, she re-enters small town life with the hopes of setting things right with her dad, the world’s most stubborn man. David, Isabella’s father, is another challenge she’d rather not face, but who else will care for her daughter after Jenny’s gone?
Arrogant and controlling, David hasn’t changed one iota since he got her pregnant just out of high school. When he learns he has a daughter, nothing will stop him from full custody—starting immediately.
And why must true love show its face now, of all times? What’s a dying woman going to do with a man who proposes months before her predicted date with the coroner?
Crossing Oceans gripped me from the get-go. Author Gina Holmes masters the art of angst. I had no idea I was in for such a gripping ride. If you’re a reader who shuns a tear-jerker, this one isn’t for you. But for everyone else, you’ll cherish it. Sometimes, a girl just needs a good cry.
Don’t get me wrong. Crossing Oceans not all doom and gloom. It overflows with themes such as hope, restoration, and beating the odds. The odds are certainly stacked against Jenny, which creates perfect literary tension. To be honest, Holmes didn’t always resolve the tension in ways I would have liked. Several times, I nearly threw the book across the room. “What mother would do that?” I’d scream. But then if I was dying, maybe I’d do that too…
Crossing Oceans forced me to think in a way rare to womens fiction, and I admire the author her boldness. She strips away pretenses and exposes us all for who we are—temporal, selfish, proud. The last book to leave me this raw was Jenkins’ Though None Go With Me, a book (as heart wrenching as it was) I never want forget.
I turned the last page, set Crossing Oceans down, and--after giving my nose a good blow--went through the rest of my day carrying Jenny in my heart and mind. Will I ever forget her? I doubt it. Will I forget the lessons she taught me? I certainly hope not.
Arrogant and controlling, David hasn’t changed one iota since he got her pregnant just out of high school. When he learns he has a daughter, nothing will stop him from full custody—starting immediately.
And why must true love show its face now, of all times? What’s a dying woman going to do with a man who proposes months before her predicted date with the coroner?
Crossing Oceans gripped me from the get-go. Author Gina Holmes masters the art of angst. I had no idea I was in for such a gripping ride. If you’re a reader who shuns a tear-jerker, this one isn’t for you. But for everyone else, you’ll cherish it. Sometimes, a girl just needs a good cry.
Don’t get me wrong. Crossing Oceans not all doom and gloom. It overflows with themes such as hope, restoration, and beating the odds. The odds are certainly stacked against Jenny, which creates perfect literary tension. To be honest, Holmes didn’t always resolve the tension in ways I would have liked. Several times, I nearly threw the book across the room. “What mother would do that?” I’d scream. But then if I was dying, maybe I’d do that too…
Crossing Oceans forced me to think in a way rare to womens fiction, and I admire the author her boldness. She strips away pretenses and exposes us all for who we are—temporal, selfish, proud. The last book to leave me this raw was Jenkins’ Though None Go With Me, a book (as heart wrenching as it was) I never want forget.
I turned the last page, set Crossing Oceans down, and--after giving my nose a good blow--went through the rest of my day carrying Jenny in my heart and mind. Will I ever forget her? I doubt it. Will I forget the lessons she taught me? I certainly hope not.
April 11, 2012
I might be stepping out on a limb here, but I’m going to give Crossing Oceans 5 Stars.
This was a different type of book from the genre I’ve been reading regularly, but no one can say I’m not willing to step out into a different genre. Sometimes I’ve found that the books I’ve like the most are the ones I have the least to say about in my blogs (that’s not always the case). Sometimes I just feel like the reader needs to experience the book for themselves. Just take my word for it. This is one of those books. I wasn’t expecting much because it’s not my typical genre, but I gave it a try as my first borrow from the Amazon Prime Kindle Lending Library—need to get my money’s worth from that investment. And boy am I glad I did. I would have been willing to spend money on that one though.
This is a sad book. Let me go ahead and warn you up front. I didn’t ever actually cry where tears spilled out and onto my cheeks, but my eyes definitely teared up a time or two. (I’m not the easiest person to make cry, but not the hardest either.) The reason why tears didn’t actually fall is probably due to the fact that I’m not a mother yet. I’m sure if I had been I probably would have been bawling my eyes out.
Some of the plot seemed predictable which I normally really count against a book/author, but this book didn’t suffer because of the predictability. It was heartfelt through and through, and I think that made up for any easily predictable moments. Ecclesiastes says “there’s nothing new under the sun.” And I really think this book shows the sacrifices we, as humans, as Christians, as mothers, are called to make in today’s world. And while I might not experience something that’s never been experienced before, I might not feel something that no one else has ever felt before, my circumstances, my experiences, my feelings all join together to make me unique. And that’s why this book didn’t disappoint.
Check out Crossing Oceans.
This was a different type of book from the genre I’ve been reading regularly, but no one can say I’m not willing to step out into a different genre. Sometimes I’ve found that the books I’ve like the most are the ones I have the least to say about in my blogs (that’s not always the case). Sometimes I just feel like the reader needs to experience the book for themselves. Just take my word for it. This is one of those books. I wasn’t expecting much because it’s not my typical genre, but I gave it a try as my first borrow from the Amazon Prime Kindle Lending Library—need to get my money’s worth from that investment. And boy am I glad I did. I would have been willing to spend money on that one though.
This is a sad book. Let me go ahead and warn you up front. I didn’t ever actually cry where tears spilled out and onto my cheeks, but my eyes definitely teared up a time or two. (I’m not the easiest person to make cry, but not the hardest either.) The reason why tears didn’t actually fall is probably due to the fact that I’m not a mother yet. I’m sure if I had been I probably would have been bawling my eyes out.
Some of the plot seemed predictable which I normally really count against a book/author, but this book didn’t suffer because of the predictability. It was heartfelt through and through, and I think that made up for any easily predictable moments. Ecclesiastes says “there’s nothing new under the sun.” And I really think this book shows the sacrifices we, as humans, as Christians, as mothers, are called to make in today’s world. And while I might not experience something that’s never been experienced before, I might not feel something that no one else has ever felt before, my circumstances, my experiences, my feelings all join together to make me unique. And that’s why this book didn’t disappoint.
Check out Crossing Oceans.
July 26, 2011
Okay, I've recently decided to save five stars for books I intend to reread, but I'm going to make an exception with this one. The only reason I probably won't reread it anytime soon is that it affected me so deeply.
It's like Steel Magnolias if you pulled out Shirley Maclain. It's raw, it's real. It's hard to "go there" as a wife and a mom--even harder when you have to see such pain through the lens of unrealized dreams. You'll have to read it to find out what I mean. And I do recommend that you read it--trust me, though, it's tough. Don't read it on the airplane like I did. You're going to want to be alone with a box of tissues and a warm cozy blanket with your kids asleep nearby so you can sneak in for a hug and a kiss.
Spiritually, this book was a great example of Christian fiction with a faith message that felt real. It wasn't an agenda or a sermon. It was simply part of the characters lives in a real way that the reader could glimpse.
Lastly, this book wins my award for best last line of a book ever. Now don't sneak ahead to see what it is, or you'll ruin it. But, kudos to Gina Holmes for a poignant ending to a beautiful story.
It's like Steel Magnolias if you pulled out Shirley Maclain. It's raw, it's real. It's hard to "go there" as a wife and a mom--even harder when you have to see such pain through the lens of unrealized dreams. You'll have to read it to find out what I mean. And I do recommend that you read it--trust me, though, it's tough. Don't read it on the airplane like I did. You're going to want to be alone with a box of tissues and a warm cozy blanket with your kids asleep nearby so you can sneak in for a hug and a kiss.
Spiritually, this book was a great example of Christian fiction with a faith message that felt real. It wasn't an agenda or a sermon. It was simply part of the characters lives in a real way that the reader could glimpse.
Lastly, this book wins my award for best last line of a book ever. Now don't sneak ahead to see what it is, or you'll ruin it. But, kudos to Gina Holmes for a poignant ending to a beautiful story.
March 5, 2012
I don't usually read Christian fiction, but I really liked this. I didn't know it was Christian fiction when I started it, which is probably a good thing, because otherwise I never would have picked it up. It didn't feel like God was being shoved in my face, it was more like God was a supporting character off in the background somewhere and only referenced occasionally. Religion didn't get in the way of the story, and while I liked Dry as Rain, the author's second novel, I preferred this book.
May 27, 2017
As I read this, I was reminded of how short life is and what it means to cherish every moment. This story is heart wrenching and amazing. I immensely enjoyed this read. I admire how practical and realistic it was. The decision and choices Jenny had to make were incredibly difficult yet she did it with grace and love. I can't imagine being in her situation and living it out as confidently as she did. Incredible!
October 3, 2022
This book touched my heart deeply. The sacrifices Jenny makes for her daughter reminds me of sacrifices my own mother made for our family. I loved God’s voice!!!
October 23, 2012
Honestly, at about halfway through the book, I actually wrote to a friend who asked me how I liked it, "It seems a little slow to me. I love Gina's voice, I love her style, I even connect with the first-person POV (not my first choice), but I feel like I'm just waiting, like things are moving too slowly. Shouldn't life feel short [in these circumstances] and like there's too little of it?"
But then, like a flipped switch, Jenny Lucas began to say 'yes' to things. She began to live. And I realized that EVERYTHING was holding its breath, waiting, pulling for the characters, wanting to push stubborn feet into moving, broken hearts into healing, angry souls into forgiving. "The End" was well worth the wait.
Gina's novel is an authentic, tumultuous, and poignant journey through the many different phases and seasons of love. It is a must-read for those who love heartfelt fiction, but keep the tissues close by! Thank you, Gina, for a story well-told.
But then, like a flipped switch, Jenny Lucas began to say 'yes' to things. She began to live. And I realized that EVERYTHING was holding its breath, waiting, pulling for the characters, wanting to push stubborn feet into moving, broken hearts into healing, angry souls into forgiving. "The End" was well worth the wait.
Gina's novel is an authentic, tumultuous, and poignant journey through the many different phases and seasons of love. It is a must-read for those who love heartfelt fiction, but keep the tissues close by! Thank you, Gina, for a story well-told.
June 23, 2010
I thought it was annoying that the auther portrayed Bella as a 5-yr-old when she should have been a 3 or 4-yr-old. My son is 5 and he understands the concept of death. He would not have tried to "cross the ocean" to get to his dying mother. I also found it really unrealistic that Bella's biological father, David, would have been so uncaring thta he would have thrown his newly reunited 5-yr-old dtr into a pool when she told him that she could not swim. David's personality was off. He would have been more sympathetic to Jenny considering she was dying. As for Jenny... I think any mother would try all the treatment methods available to stay alive to care for her child. I can't imagine just giving up.
I liked the ending, but the rest of the book was just OK.
I liked the ending, but the rest of the book was just OK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2011
I wanted to like this book but found myself totally annoyed. I had very little sympathy for Jenny, even given her tough situation. I was really sympathetic at first, but her behavior, anger, jealousy, very poor treatment of others (except her daughter) was unbecoming and selfish. I scratched my head wondering why her high school friend was so in love with her. How can you so deeply love someone who you never knew in high school and now who you haven't seen in how many years? Pure fantasy. I was particularly annoyed with the religious turn at the end. All through the book, Jenny behaves horribly, un-Christian like, and now she goes straight to the arms of God? because she has cancer? I just didn't get it.
April 26, 2012
I enjoyed this book which I won from goodreads. It was a sweet story about a dying young mom and her struggle to reconnect with her family and the father of her child in order to secure her future. The story is sad throughout but it does us the favor of not dwelling exclusively on the sadness of her death but focuses on relationships and rebuilding those relationships that get lost along the way.
March 21, 2016
I read this entire book in five hours! Once I started it I could not put it down! Vey well written.
January 31, 2023
When I picked up this book I had no idea it was about a terminally ill main character or that it was Christian fiction. Those two things are usually not my preferred reading material. I was surprised, but ultimately glad I didn't know this ahead of time because I may not have read it and would've missed out on a very touching story.
The simple storytelling is sweet and sad, but also hopeful. I appreciated that it was faith-based without being preachy, and the characters weren't perfect in the "too good to be real" way many Christian stories portray their important characters. The relationships Jenny has with Bella and Mama Peg are what pushed me through the depressing parts of the story. I loved the symbolism of the apple trees, and how Jenny's narration eases the reader into making peace with her death.
Notes:
PS: I may or may not have bawled like a baby while reading this book.
Dual read with library audiobook and my own book.
The simple storytelling is sweet and sad, but also hopeful. I appreciated that it was faith-based without being preachy, and the characters weren't perfect in the "too good to be real" way many Christian stories portray their important characters. The relationships Jenny has with Bella and Mama Peg are what pushed me through the depressing parts of the story. I loved the symbolism of the apple trees, and how Jenny's narration eases the reader into making peace with her death.
Notes:
PS: I may or may not have bawled like a baby while reading this book.
Dual read with library audiobook and my own book.
July 29, 2020
Well written and engaging. It was hard for me to put it down.
April 28, 2024
One of the most depressing books I have ever read.
July 13, 2010
Crossing Oceans
Author Gina Holmes
Life dealt Jenny a bad hand. Returning home with her five-year-old daughter, she is greeted by a father who is about to meet his granddaughter for the first time. Knowing that time is of the essence and major decisions have to be made, Jenny needs to choose a caregiver for her daughter before it is too late.
A bright and shining star, Isabella enters a world that will forever change her life including her natural father. Knowing that the decision she makes now is too precious to take lightly and make quickly, Jenny leads Isabella into the arms of her father, her Mama Peg and David, her father. A mother and daughter relationship is special and the bond between Jenny and Isabella is strong. But, Jenny has to face her fate and her father’s anger with the death of her mother and his feelings for her. Hard choices are made and new friendships will be born in this heart-rending novel by Gina Holmes, “Crossing Ocean.”
Facing her fears about her own morality, embracing the love of her estranged family, Jenny and Isabella remind the reader of how special their bond is and how fragile life’s path. As the ice melts on a warm day and it melts and finally evaporates, so does Jenny’s life. Learning about herself, coming to terms with the fact that David, Isabella’s father would not accept her and dealing with a fatal illness, Jenny learns to set her differences aside for Isabella.
Choices are hard to make. A child’s nurturing and care is not something any parent should take lightly. But, when it comes between a new love, a child’s father and two elderly grandparents, whom will she choose, why and how does one make this decision.
A circle has no beginning and no end. Life does not work that way. We start at one end of the spectrum and work our way slowly to what we hope will be a good life, making the right choices and ending with fulfillment and joy. Jenny worked hard to create a circle of life for Bella each part of the circle filled with goodness, kindness and caring people to fill in al the spaces on the never ending ring of life. Returning to Tullytown took courage and wisdom on Jenny’s part. The outcome will take more.
As Jenny and Craig get closer and David becomes more involved in Bella’s life more decisions have to be made. The rift between Jenny and her dad closes and the love that they share now will never die.
As David tries to get closer to Bella along with his wife Lindsey the reader begins to realize that he is treating Bella more like a possession of a prize that is to be one and not as the precious child she is. Parents that are divorced fight over custody but Jenny’s decision as to where Bella will live and who will bring her up after she is gone is a grave and serious one that she does not take lightly.
Relationships grow, family ties become stronger and one little girl is the link to bond them all and bring them closer together. Told in the first person with flashbacks to help the reader understand what caused the anger between Jenny’s family and David’s, this heartbreaking story brings to light many issues that we all do not want to face.
As I have just lost my sister not three days ago, this book tells a story of how sad and difficult it is when someone you love has their life shortened way too soon. There is no easy way to cope with a loss and Jenny allows the reader into the mind of someone who knows that there is no cure what her illness and no doctors that can fix it. My sister lost oxygen to her brain and no one could bring her back leaving an empty hole in my heart and in my family’s. This book helps the reader understand what a family goes through when this happens.
A mother’s love for her child is undying and a young child who learned the truth. As Jenny describes her upcoming journey to cross an ocean to the other side, Bella decides her own fate when she learns her life was going to change. Children are resilient in many respects but in handling this situation there is no right or wrong way to ease a child into it.
Author Gina Holmes allows the reader to take this journey along with Jenny and her family as life comes full circle for Jenny. Flashing back between the past and the present we learn how Jenny coped with the death of her mother and how she would allow her daughter to deal with her future. Forgiveness is often hard when misconceptions fester and the truth is not told. But, when Isabella is in trouble the two families, Preston’s and Lucas’s come together as one.
With an ending that will bring tears to your eyes and a little girl who will endear you, Crossing Oceans is an outstanding novel written by author Gina Holmes. Life comes full circle and then it begins again.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
I dedicate this review to the memory of my sister Marcia Wallach and anyone whose life was cut short too soon.
Author Gina Holmes
Life dealt Jenny a bad hand. Returning home with her five-year-old daughter, she is greeted by a father who is about to meet his granddaughter for the first time. Knowing that time is of the essence and major decisions have to be made, Jenny needs to choose a caregiver for her daughter before it is too late.
A bright and shining star, Isabella enters a world that will forever change her life including her natural father. Knowing that the decision she makes now is too precious to take lightly and make quickly, Jenny leads Isabella into the arms of her father, her Mama Peg and David, her father. A mother and daughter relationship is special and the bond between Jenny and Isabella is strong. But, Jenny has to face her fate and her father’s anger with the death of her mother and his feelings for her. Hard choices are made and new friendships will be born in this heart-rending novel by Gina Holmes, “Crossing Ocean.”
Facing her fears about her own morality, embracing the love of her estranged family, Jenny and Isabella remind the reader of how special their bond is and how fragile life’s path. As the ice melts on a warm day and it melts and finally evaporates, so does Jenny’s life. Learning about herself, coming to terms with the fact that David, Isabella’s father would not accept her and dealing with a fatal illness, Jenny learns to set her differences aside for Isabella.
Choices are hard to make. A child’s nurturing and care is not something any parent should take lightly. But, when it comes between a new love, a child’s father and two elderly grandparents, whom will she choose, why and how does one make this decision.
A circle has no beginning and no end. Life does not work that way. We start at one end of the spectrum and work our way slowly to what we hope will be a good life, making the right choices and ending with fulfillment and joy. Jenny worked hard to create a circle of life for Bella each part of the circle filled with goodness, kindness and caring people to fill in al the spaces on the never ending ring of life. Returning to Tullytown took courage and wisdom on Jenny’s part. The outcome will take more.
As Jenny and Craig get closer and David becomes more involved in Bella’s life more decisions have to be made. The rift between Jenny and her dad closes and the love that they share now will never die.
As David tries to get closer to Bella along with his wife Lindsey the reader begins to realize that he is treating Bella more like a possession of a prize that is to be one and not as the precious child she is. Parents that are divorced fight over custody but Jenny’s decision as to where Bella will live and who will bring her up after she is gone is a grave and serious one that she does not take lightly.
Relationships grow, family ties become stronger and one little girl is the link to bond them all and bring them closer together. Told in the first person with flashbacks to help the reader understand what caused the anger between Jenny’s family and David’s, this heartbreaking story brings to light many issues that we all do not want to face.
As I have just lost my sister not three days ago, this book tells a story of how sad and difficult it is when someone you love has their life shortened way too soon. There is no easy way to cope with a loss and Jenny allows the reader into the mind of someone who knows that there is no cure what her illness and no doctors that can fix it. My sister lost oxygen to her brain and no one could bring her back leaving an empty hole in my heart and in my family’s. This book helps the reader understand what a family goes through when this happens.
A mother’s love for her child is undying and a young child who learned the truth. As Jenny describes her upcoming journey to cross an ocean to the other side, Bella decides her own fate when she learns her life was going to change. Children are resilient in many respects but in handling this situation there is no right or wrong way to ease a child into it.
Author Gina Holmes allows the reader to take this journey along with Jenny and her family as life comes full circle for Jenny. Flashing back between the past and the present we learn how Jenny coped with the death of her mother and how she would allow her daughter to deal with her future. Forgiveness is often hard when misconceptions fester and the truth is not told. But, when Isabella is in trouble the two families, Preston’s and Lucas’s come together as one.
With an ending that will bring tears to your eyes and a little girl who will endear you, Crossing Oceans is an outstanding novel written by author Gina Holmes. Life comes full circle and then it begins again.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
I dedicate this review to the memory of my sister Marcia Wallach and anyone whose life was cut short too soon.
July 8, 2015
Time! There never seems to be enough time to do the things that matter! Knowing you only had months to live, what would you do? Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of Crossing the Oceans. I have to be honest I didn’t think I could read this book because I had lost my dad to cancer a short time ago. But Gina Holmes pens a brilliant story of love and sacrifice. It’s one I wont’ soon forget!
Gina Holmes’s story reminds me of A Walk to Remember and The Notebook both written by Nicholas Sparks. This author has an amazing gift to masterfully blend together a memorable story filled with a special tenderness, hope, love, forgiveness, mixed with a sense of well timed humor, throughout her book that touched my heart deeply. It ignited warm feelings of love and hope inside I can’t explain.
Isabella’s mom, Jenny is sick. Jenny is on a mission to go to North Carolina, to make peace with her family and her past. She knows what it’s like to lose a mom at a young age. She was going to do everything in her power to make this journey easier for her daughter.
Six year old Isabella is the common denominator between two families not fond of each other. She looks to her mom, Jenny, for an understanding to the change taking place in her world. Jenny reaches out to God for the strength to do the impossible. I could only hope God would give me the strength to be like Jenny when my time is near.
I anxiously turned the pages of Crossing the Oceans, as I read of Jenny’s last days and remembered my dad’s. As I finished the last page, healing tears slid down my cheeks and a knot formed in my throat; forever touched in my heart, mind and emotions by the words I had read.
This author gave me a peak into how it might be to have my heavenly daddy and my earthly daddy waiting for me when it’s my time to run into their loving arms! Home at last! God prepares us for this passage if we let him. Gina gave me a glimpse into a young woman’s crossing to the life after this one—a journey all of us must take.
Gina Homles, this book is a gift to me and I suspect it will be for many others. I had no idea you could write like this. I’m excited at what God can do through your obedience to Him, your writing and this book. I’ll be waiting in line to read your next book for sure! Yes, there will be a line :D
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Gina Holmes’s story reminds me of A Walk to Remember and The Notebook both written by Nicholas Sparks. This author has an amazing gift to masterfully blend together a memorable story filled with a special tenderness, hope, love, forgiveness, mixed with a sense of well timed humor, throughout her book that touched my heart deeply. It ignited warm feelings of love and hope inside I can’t explain.
Isabella’s mom, Jenny is sick. Jenny is on a mission to go to North Carolina, to make peace with her family and her past. She knows what it’s like to lose a mom at a young age. She was going to do everything in her power to make this journey easier for her daughter.
Six year old Isabella is the common denominator between two families not fond of each other. She looks to her mom, Jenny, for an understanding to the change taking place in her world. Jenny reaches out to God for the strength to do the impossible. I could only hope God would give me the strength to be like Jenny when my time is near.
I anxiously turned the pages of Crossing the Oceans, as I read of Jenny’s last days and remembered my dad’s. As I finished the last page, healing tears slid down my cheeks and a knot formed in my throat; forever touched in my heart, mind and emotions by the words I had read.
This author gave me a peak into how it might be to have my heavenly daddy and my earthly daddy waiting for me when it’s my time to run into their loving arms! Home at last! God prepares us for this passage if we let him. Gina gave me a glimpse into a young woman’s crossing to the life after this one—a journey all of us must take.
Gina Homles, this book is a gift to me and I suspect it will be for many others. I had no idea you could write like this. I’m excited at what God can do through your obedience to Him, your writing and this book. I’ll be waiting in line to read your next book for sure! Yes, there will be a line :D
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
October 23, 2013
Six years ago, Jenny up and left all that she knew to make it on her own after she fell pregnant to her high school boyfriend David. The night she was due to tell him, he had broken up with her and then her dad thinking that she did it to spite him due to a long standing rift between the families kicked it out of home. Jenny not wanting her child brought up in that environment left town and later gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Isabella. Wanting to share the news with David, she rang him only to discover via voice-mail he had gotten married. She left it at that and moved on with her life, being a single parent raising a beautiful little girl. Now five years later, Jenny has discovered that she is dying and doesn't have much time left so now in order for her daughter to be safe and in a happy environment, she must go back to her past - the one she vouched she would never return too and mend broken fences and hearts in the name of her daughter. The first step is introducing her daughter to her Grandparents and then the major is to Isabella's father David. Will David and his new wife Lindsey accept Isabella as their own ? Will Jenny be wise and have comfort in making sure that her daughter is cared for once she is gone to heaven ? Can the past be forgotten and forgiven in order to make way for the future and path the future's steps.
Find out in the tale of Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes which will tug at your heartstrings and show just how deep a mother's love runs for their child.
August 11, 2011
Hats off to Gina Holmes for a spectacular debut novel! I picked up Crossing Oceans when it was a Kindle freebie in November and read the whole story in one day, almost unheard of for me in recent years. What’s so special about this book?
It is the first person present tense story of Jenny Lucas, a young single mother with a huge dilemma. She’s dying of cancer and needs to make amends with her estranged father and possibly with Isabella’s father, who never knew he had a daughter. She needs someone to love this little girl and care for her when she’s gone in just a few months.
But Jenny and her dad still butt heads constantly, and her ex-boyfriend from a wealthy family, David, is an even bigger jerk than she remembered. He’s married, and he and his wife have been unable to have children. When David and Lindsey realize the situation with Bella, David’s grasping fingers reach for the child.
Jenny is out of options. Who can she trust to cherish her most precious treasure? Will the long-standing feud between her dad and David’s father, both forceful, hotheaded men, be smoothed over? Her time is very limited, and she needs to choose what’s best for Bella, not herself, before she crosses over the ocean of death.
Yes, it’s a tearjerker. Yes, it deals with material many of us prefer not to think about. But Gina Holmes winds her way through this young mother’s last days in a sensitive, poignant manner that kept me spellbound. Please read this book. It cannot leave you unchanged.
It is the first person present tense story of Jenny Lucas, a young single mother with a huge dilemma. She’s dying of cancer and needs to make amends with her estranged father and possibly with Isabella’s father, who never knew he had a daughter. She needs someone to love this little girl and care for her when she’s gone in just a few months.
But Jenny and her dad still butt heads constantly, and her ex-boyfriend from a wealthy family, David, is an even bigger jerk than she remembered. He’s married, and he and his wife have been unable to have children. When David and Lindsey realize the situation with Bella, David’s grasping fingers reach for the child.
Jenny is out of options. Who can she trust to cherish her most precious treasure? Will the long-standing feud between her dad and David’s father, both forceful, hotheaded men, be smoothed over? Her time is very limited, and she needs to choose what’s best for Bella, not herself, before she crosses over the ocean of death.
Yes, it’s a tearjerker. Yes, it deals with material many of us prefer not to think about. But Gina Holmes winds her way through this young mother’s last days in a sensitive, poignant manner that kept me spellbound. Please read this book. It cannot leave you unchanged.
May 7, 2010
From the back cover copy and what I’d heard about this novel before I cracked the spine, I knew the main character, Jenny Lucas, was facing the end of her life. A life that would be cut short by cancer. I prepared myself for that in the way that I did when I read Marley and Me. It wasn’t the ending that mattered so much, but the celebration of life on the pages.
What I didn’t know was that Jenny’s cancer was melanoma—the cancer that claimed my own mom ten years ago. And although my mom wasn’t leaving a young child behind, it was impossible to read Crossing Oceans without reflecting on the mother/child relationship and the fears we all face—what will happen to the ones who are left behind when we die? What legacy will remain?
Gina’s writing is graceful, poignant, and emotional, but sprinkled with enough light-hearted moments to keep it from being melodramatic. Yes, you will cry, but not for the reasons you might think. Of course, I’m not going to tell what happens because this story of love and healing and sacrifice is one you should savor for yourself. I’d suggest you pick up a copy today. Lovely debut.
What I didn’t know was that Jenny’s cancer was melanoma—the cancer that claimed my own mom ten years ago. And although my mom wasn’t leaving a young child behind, it was impossible to read Crossing Oceans without reflecting on the mother/child relationship and the fears we all face—what will happen to the ones who are left behind when we die? What legacy will remain?
Gina’s writing is graceful, poignant, and emotional, but sprinkled with enough light-hearted moments to keep it from being melodramatic. Yes, you will cry, but not for the reasons you might think. Of course, I’m not going to tell what happens because this story of love and healing and sacrifice is one you should savor for yourself. I’d suggest you pick up a copy today. Lovely debut.
May 29, 2010
I was immediately drawn to this story: young woman loses her mom early in life, find "true" love (she thinks), ends up pregnant so she flees from home, only to return five years later because she doesn't have long to live and she needs to make things right with her father and the father of her daughter. This is an impressive debut novel by Holmes, one that took her ten years to bring to completion. I enjoyed this one very much and only found myself being upset a few times at certain characters behavior only because it didn't feel realistic to me. I totally understood Jenny's jealousy toward her old boyfriend's wife. This would be the woman who would raise her daughter when she died...that hit me hard because I know had it been me preparing to die and knowing that someone else would be mothering my children....oh, the heartache that would occur. I cried more than once while spending time with these characters and I'll be reading Holmes again.
July 21, 2012
This book just wasn't very good. Sorry, author. The characters weren't really developed - nothing changed, there were no epiphanies over the course of the story. The religious bits felt incredibly jarring - like they were mashed in and full of awkward cliches that didn't really fit the narative. The story itself was full of ridiculousness that made for high drama, though highly unrealistic drama. The language was stilted and archaic - not the dialogue necessarily, but the narrator's commentary and thoughts would have fit into a Victorian novel more often than not.
I finished the book because I dont't typically not finish books. And I had to see if there was anything redeeming about it. She still died at the end (that's not really a spoiler). So that's not shocking. It was just...not cool. And I'm glad it's over.
I finished the book because I dont't typically not finish books. And I had to see if there was anything redeeming about it. She still died at the end (that's not really a spoiler). So that's not shocking. It was just...not cool. And I'm glad it's over.
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