Oceans Apart Book Review

Writing Tuesday

I have decided to do book reviews occasionally on Writing Tuesdays.

2015 Reading Challenge

28. Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury
      Theme/Topic: book you own/have but never read

Synopsis:
Airline pilot Connor Evans and his wife, Michele, seem to be the perfect couple living what looks like a perfect life. Then a plane goes down in the Pacific Ocean. One of the casualties is Kiahna Siefert, a flight attendant Connor knew well. Too well. Kiahna’s will is very clear: before her seven-year-old son, Max, can be turned over to the state, he must spend the summer with the father he’s never met, the father who doesn’t know he exists: Connor Evans. Now will the presence of one lonely child and the truth he represents destroy Connor’s family ? Or is it possible that healing and hope might come in the shape of a seven-year-old boy?

My Review:
I had been struggling to write a review without using spoilers. I usually try not to use spoilers or give it all away in my reviews because I feel like that ruins the fun and joy of reading.

Mistakes happen and no one is perfect and that's what happens with Kiahna and Connor. They have basically a one-night stand when they know they shouldn't have. I can respect Kiahna's decision not to tell Connor about Max because she didn't want to destroy Connor and Michele's marriage. At the same time, I don't think it's right to not let someone know they have a child - I mean it wasn't that Connor was a bad father or would have been a bad father, it was just the circumstances that made it harder.

Michele's reaction was typical. I could definitely understand where she was coming from, despite how annoyed and frustrated I was at her throughout the story for different reasons, especially for not even wanting to hear Connor's side of the story. I know Michele would come around in the end, but also knew that they had to go through what they did to make that happen (like sending Max back. The only thing I really disliked was the way Michele tried to dissuade their daughters, Elizabeth and Susan, from getting to know Max. I feel that they should have been able to make their own decision from the beginning.

Throughout the story, I really liked how every situation taking place was explained to Max in a way that he was able to understand. Max was a strong little boy, who was able to deal with it all in his own way, without pressure to talk to anyone about how he was feeling unless he wanted to or was ready to. I feel that it was all handled well.

Oceans Apart is a prime example that everything can work out in the end, but it just takes time to get there.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥

Author Spotlight: Karen Kingsbury

Author Spotlight Week 4

Karen Kingsbury

Karen Kingsbury is an American Christian and inspirational novelist. There are nearly 25 million copies of her books in print and she has been on the USA Today and the #1 New York Times bestselling list numerous times. In addition to writing, Karen is also a motivational and public speaker for women. She can also be heard on the radio on The Karen Kingsbury Show (Salem radio) from 2-7pm CST on weekdays - I will provide the link to this below. Karen lives in Nashville, TN with her husband Don and their five children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti.

There are not many Christian novelists around today, but Karen Kingsbury is fortunate to be one of those who is around. I've read many of her books during the past several years and by this time, I forget what book I read first. But I do know this - I've never read a book of hers that I didn't like. What I like about Karen's books is that she puts the characters through everyday situations/problems that every person goes through, but is still able to keep to Christian values while going through them. It's impossible for me to choose a favorite book or series that I've read from Karen Kingsbury.

One of my favorite series of hers would be the 9/11 Series. Obviously, it's a fiction series based on 9/11 events. 9/11 was the worst tragedy that I've been through and that happened in my lifetime. Like everyone else in the US, the East Coast especially, I woke up on September 11, 2001 like any other day. Since I am on the East Coast, I was in school when the planes struck the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field in PA. We were released early and sent home and by the time I got home, the towers had already fallen. I was a freshman in high school and the school year had literally just started. Being a freshman, I didn't really know anyone yet (granted 9/11 was only supposed to be our second full day of school), but an event so tragic ended up bringing us together, as a school community, as well as the country.

In 2001, I had been dealing with a lot and going through rough times, 9/11 included. It broke my heart knowing how many people died in that tragedy and how many people it affected. I am from Philadelphia, PA and all three places hit are not that far from me. And I couldn't help thinking that it could have happened in my hometown. You just don't know. The point of all this is that even though the events of 9/11 are sad/tragic/devastating, it also made me appreciate life more and what I had more. And that family is important because you never know when they can be taken from you.

Hope you have enjoyed this.

More information can be found at:
Karen's website: http://www.karenkingsbury.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKarenKingsbury?ref=br_tf
Twitter: @KarenKingsbury
Karen's radio show can be heard here: http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥