Set in Edwardian England and ideal for readers who enjoy Julie Klassen novels, this romance about an English aviation pioneer and the girl who falls in love with him is filled with adventure and faith.Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don’t approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher … them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson’s new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson’s newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella’s heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella’s faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?
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Carrie Turansky is one of my go-to novelists, especially for historical stories, so I was surprised I hadn’t already read this book when I recommended it to my book club. When I learned I hadn’t read it—two days before our meeting—I wondered if I would finish in time.
No worries, at all. This was a page-turning adventure, mystery, romance.
My hubby is an aeronautical design engineer so I wondered how Turansky would fare with the aviation portion. No worries there, again. These scenes were so beautifully written I practically felt the wind in my hair and the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
The love story was sweet, but not saccharine. Turansky well addressed the family dynamics of family expectations and secrets.
A clean story with faith messages. Well worth the read. Highly recommend—especially to my hubby.
High marks for the amount of research that must have gone into this novel, and for the author’s skill at creating a story world so immersive and believable. I enjoyed the history and the story both. The romance was very lightly portrayed, so this would make an excellent choice both for younger readers and not so young who love historical fiction.
“It’s not easy to forgive someone when what they’ve done has caused a deep wound, but when you do, it benefits you as much, or maybe more, than the person you forgive. It’s like a burden is lifted off your shoulders, and it opens the path for healing and restoration.”
This book is the first book I’ve read written by Carrie Turansky. She’s well-loved by many and I have been meaning to get to some of her books; I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this book and the author now has one more fan in her corner. This historical fiction is well-researched, well-written, completely enthralling and engaging. The author has everything needed for the perfect recipe – a beautifully laid-out plot, wonderful dialogue, memorable and lovable characters, a smidgen of intrigue, and a strong faith component that defines the characters.
In 1909 England, many are inventing and re-inventing the airplane and pilots are eager to cross the English Channel for a prize sum. James is one of the aspiring aviators, born under speculative circumstances and reared by an aviation professor and his sister. He is haunted by his past that he does not know, burdened under the threat of failure but still kind, loving, faithful, and loyal. He is intelligent, innovative, and able to admit his faults even though he’s proud. Bella is the daughter of a newspaper tycoon, always being urged by her mother to make a match with someone titled to elevate their family status but wishes to be a journalist for her father’s newspaper. She is inquisitive, intelligent, tender-hearted, and loving. Bella and James must struggle through deception, disparate society standings, misunderstandings, pain of the past, and disappointments to discover what they really mean to each other.
James and his mentor professor’s faith are incredible examples for us all. Even in the midst of turmoil, disappointment, hurt, and uncertainty, both James and the professor choose to cling to the God who sees all and knows all.
I also learned quite a bit about the beginnings of aviation through this book. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that is well-written will love reading this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher via Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
A wind swept tale set in Edwardian England. A powerful and inspiring tale of hope, perseverance, and the power of forgiveness. A touch of mystery and a dash of faith makes this adventurous romance hard to put down. The research about the early days of aviation is well thought out and blended into the plot effortlessly. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Across the Blue is a beautifully woven story of perseverance, forgiveness, and hope. This inspiring story includes a little mystery along with adventure and romance. Ms. Turansky’s descriptions of early aviation attempts are vivid and exciting—evidence of extensive research. The leading characters, James and Bella, are engaging and delightful; and the story of their unlikely match is interesting and entertaining. Issues of faith are also skillfully woven throughout the narrative. I highly recommend this book.
Hard to put down as the story moves right along!
Clean romantic tale with adventurous protagonists who dared – the heroine to break into the male world of journalism and the hero to advance aviation and fly across the English Channel. Good historical research to back it. Not hearts and flowers, but ups and downs in the relationship. Good support characters. Christian hope and faith portrayed.
Loved this book! The author did a fabulous job of transporting the reader to the early 1900s, and she kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen. Highly recommend!
A very good book, lots of history concerning aviation.
Love all her books but so enjoyed this one!
Wrapped around the first attempt to cross the English Channel by airplane, Across the Blue is a fascinating account of the infancy of aviation and includes historical figures Louis Bleriot, Herbert Latham, and Count de Lambert which adds depth to this interesting novel. I enjoyed that the main protagonists each had a major plotline: James’ dream as a pilot and Bella’s to be a journalist. These goals would be challenging in any era, but are especially so in the early 1900s. Bella is feisty, and she struggles to balance her headstrong desires with accepted social mores. Extensive description gives the reader a look at the food, fashion, and hierarchy of Edwardian England. The story tied up a little too quickly for my taste, with Bella’s parents changing their attitudes somewhat suddenly. Themes of forgiveness and grace are woven into the story without being preachy or heavy-handed. A sweet story about likeable characters.
I received a copy of the book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Across the Blue is a wonderfully, adventurous story! Set amongst the lives of the rich in the year 1909, two people attempt to defy the norm of society to set their own course and fulfill their dreams. Isabella Grayson is drawn in to the world of journalism and desires to write articles for her father’s newspaper. James Drake is an aviator hoping to be the first to fly across the English Channel. Their stories collide and draw them together as they help each other see what their deepest desires truly are.
This story is beautifully written. Filled with history, a sweet, sweet love story, acceptance and the love of a father, and the theme of forgiveness and acceptance of the love of our Heavenly Father! I really loved everything about this book and look forward to reading more from Carrie Turansky!
It is 1909 and barriers are about to be broken. James Drake wants to be the first man to cross the English Channel in an airplane and Isabella (Bella) Grayson wants to be recognized as a journalist. Their paths cross when James and his mentor try to interest Bella’s father into investing in their venture. Bella is intrigued by aviation so she is drawn to this young pilot and James is drawn to her beauty. They both feel a great attraction but there are huge obstacles in their relationship. Bella’s family is “newly rich” and they want her to “marry well” so that they will be be accepted into high society and James is a poor young man who doesn’t know who his father was or if he is still alive. It becomes apparent that the Graysons will do whatever is necessary to prevent their daughter’s involvement with James.
“Across the Blue” is a fascinating look at early aviation and the beginning of the advancement of women. It is filled with details of life in England in the early years of the twentieth century and there are many historical facts about aviation woven into the story. There is also a mystery surrounding James’s parentage and a reminder that a true family doesn’t have to be related by blood. Both of the main characters have many trials in their lives. Bella wants her family’s approval but she also craves her independence and James wonders if he will ever find his father or have a chance with Bella. I liked that both of them place their trust in God and rely on prayer to help them through.
This is a well-written and entertaining book filled with a subtle message of faith, grace and forgiveness and I recommend it to all fans of historical fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher but I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky is a novel set in Edwardian England. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading many more after this one. The author has an amazing ability to bring a historical setting alive and this book will make you marvel at airplane travel like you were really experiencing it for the first time. This book is set in the time when the Wright brothers were introducing the world to air travel. In particular, this book highlights the race to be the first person to cross the English Channel by plane. I highly recommend this book! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.
The first thing that caught my attention was the historical setting. It completely came to life in this book. I felt immersed and invested as if I were living out Downton Abbey <3
Isabella Grayson's family does not have royal bloodline. They've battled their way into society - or, more specifically, her parents have and now they expect their daughters to find an appropriate match to secure position and wealth. However, Bella has a dream that's calling each day more strongly to her, she wants to be a journalist. Though her father is the owner of many newspapers, he thinks it's not a woman's place and it will only stain Bella's reputation, consequently his own. Still, Bella is able to come to a truce with her parents to write anonymously if she promises to secure a suitor this season.
Her perspective is questioned when she meets James Drake. He comes from questionable background and has no financial security. Still, his character, integrity, and determination tug at Bella's heart each time they get to spend together. James dreams of crossing the canal, and each day this dream becomes more and more important as it proves to be the way to guarantee Bella's father approval towards their courtship. But, as all dream-chasers find out sooner or later, our biggest enemy if not our competitor, rather it lives right inside of us: our pride. Will they learn that what really stays and what really satisfies after the victory might not have anything to do with the dream in itself in time to make the correct decision?
This book is about dreams and the hills and valley's we face when we chase them. It's also about remembering what we've been given in life and how we let it shape us. Sticking together, supporting each other, investing in one another might just turn out to be more precious than any other conquest.
I so enjoy reading wonderful Christian historical fiction stories based on true events. Across the Blue has an extra bonus as it also has not one, but two love stories we get to watch evolve as the story progresses. The dynamics of the Grayson family was engrossing, and Carrie did not miss a beat as we witness the interactions between the siblings Bella and Sylvia and their parents as they both become independent young women.
Carrie Turansky captures the aviation race across the English Channel in true form mixing actual events and figures with fictional ones with flawless transition and her attention to detail is marvelous. My heart went out to James and the Professor as they struggled to overcome all of the obstacles thrown in their path to try and be the first to fly across the English Channel. Now days we think nothing of flying around the world but back in the 1900s it was a victory just to get off the ground, fly for fifteen minutes, and survive the landing. Carrie also reminded us that women were also striving to change history during this time as Bella fought to become a journalist in a male dominant field, and the suffragettes were fighting for women’s right to vote. Wow, we have come a long way.
The faith of Professor Steed that everything has a way of working out if you just believe, and that we have so much to be thankful for, which he instilled in James as his father figure while he was growing up, was inspirational. It was the Professor who molded James into the man we get to admire in Across the Blue.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook and Multnomah Publishing via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Very well written, turn of the century story encompassing early flight; familial ties; romance, and the place of women in society.
Isabella Grayson likes to write. Her father owns numerous newspapers in Great Britain including The Daily Mail. For Isabella to write for the paper would be a dream come true; for her parents, not so much. Women of society must not lower themselves to writing for a newspaper. How common! And surely all hopes for a suitable marriage would be lost.
Yet, determined to be published, and equally determined to push England to the forefront of flight, Isabella anonymously pens a letter to the editor of The Daily Mail. It is published! Mr. Grayson who is avidly interested in aviation is thrilled with the well written letter, at least until his daughter informs him she is the one who wrote it.
James Drake is an aspiring aviator. He is in need of a sponsor for funds to get his plane ready for the great flight over the Channel. Flying over the Channel first comes with a nice prize package, one Drake needs to continue to perfect his airplanes.
When he crashes in a field on the Grayson estates, Isabella and James meet becoming friends with similar a similar goal: get Great Britain on the aviation map.
Across The Blue Starts off with “For great is YOUR love; higher than the Heavens, YOUR faithfulness reaches to the skies. Bie exalted, O GOD above the Heavens and let YOUR glory be over all the Earth.” Psalms 108:4-5 now how was that for starting off the book in the dedication page? The book a Spiritual – Faithful and trusting in the LORD and HIS direction. It is also about dreams coming to fruition. It is also about secrets which is a shame because nothing good comes of secret and is about money( Social standing as well) This is a wonderful book – full of wonder. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley;; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com – I look forward to seeing you there.
What an interesting story! The first airplanes, the aviators, the first contests and the reporter covering them is a woman! Interesting part of History, a little mystery and the romance side was sweet. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. I was gifted a copy and my review is voluntary..
This story takes place in England when aviation was just getting started. The Wright brothers had just made their historic flight in Paris and inspired others to try their skills at making their own plane and flying. It also inspired their onlookers and made investors of some. And pointed out a country’s vulnerabilities to planes being able to fly over.
Bella’s father is a wealthy self-made newspaper man looking for prestige in society to go with his wealth. She of course is expected to marry a man with a title to bring that social connection to the family. But she is like her father and likes to write and be in the middle of current affairs. And Bela and her father share a fascination for aviation.
Jack happens to crash land his plane on the Grayson’s field as they’re touring their new estate. His mother wasn’t married and he doesn’t know who his father is. He’s in the running to design airplanes and fly across the channel and has captured the attention of Grayson and his daughter. With only these facts he wouldn’t be in the running as a suitor for Bella – unless he wins perhaps, and captures the prize money and fame.
It’s not unusual for any of us to examine our self-worth and standing with others we live around. It’s easy to let others conception of who or what we are to limit us. It’s just so satisfying to watch people break out, stand tall and prove to themselves and others what they really are capable of. In this story it applies to both Jack and Bella, standing on both sides of high society lines. Each has to follow their own plan that God has for them in order to excel.