The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval finds it is easier to remain neutral in a world that is tearing itself apart. Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the fray against her wishes when her British ex- fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father. Samuel asks her to help him escape, claiming he has … he has information that could help end the war.
Peace appeals to Catherine, but helping the man who broke her heart does not. She delays . . . until attempts on Samuel’s life convince her he’s in mortal danger. Against her better judgment she helps him flee by river, using knowledge of the landscape to creep ever closer to freedom. Their time together rekindles feelings she thought long buried, and danger seems to hound their every mile. She’s risked becoming a traitor by choosing a side, but will the decision cost her even more than she anticipated?
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Jocelyn Green painted scenery with words and gave history several faces in Between Two Shores. Using Catherine’s relationships and experiences, I learned about the French and Indian War and more about the fur trade. Interactions with family, friends, and even enemies revealed much about the characters in Between Two Shores. As Catherine lived and survived among those relationships, she moved from death, loyalty, betrayal, and finally to redemption.
Another amazing read from author Jocelyn Green. What can I say—she writes the kind of meaty historical fiction with real depth that I absolutely love to read. And once again she’s shed light on slices of history I knew nothing to little about. For instance, I’d never heard how British captives were ransomed from native peoples by French colonists, and I loved hearing how some women of that time (like Catherine) were involved in fur trading and transport of goods. What an example of strength and bravery. To top it off, the themes of the book are powerful – and as always, Jocelyn Green’s writing is masterful and the research impeccable. Another winner for sure. Highly recommend.
This book is rich in detail. I was taken on a journey to a time in history that I was not familiar with. The author did a wonderful job of describing the differences in the culture of the British/Mohawk/French/Canadian conflict. I LOVED how she was able to explain the customs and why they reacted differently to situations.
This book is not what I expected. For some reason, I thought it was a romance, but it is not. Love is a central part of the book and the different ways to care about another. Catherine comes to a better understanding of her part in the love of the people she cares about.
I could picture myself there with the characters. Jocelyn Green paints a picture that I could visualize. I don’t get that experience with many books that I read.
I give this book a solid recommendation. There is war violence, but it is not described in detail. It also alludes to torture and the taking of scalps.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green is a stand-alone novel. Set during the time of the French and Indian War. Catherine Duval is the daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father. She has always been a part of both worlds, now she is forced to take sides in a war where she would rather be a neutral. Samuel Crane, a British prisoner and her ex-fiancé, claims to have information that will end the war. When he asks Catherine to help him escape, she must decide were her loyalties lie. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of the Seven Years’ War. The interaction of Catherine and her siblings, and the growth of character that they all showed was amazing to watch. One scene at the river bordered on improper but other than that the book was great.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Between Two Shores is a beautifully written book that has obviously been very well researched. The story details life in Montreal during the mid-1700s especially the war between the British and French and the manipulation of the native tribes to help their sides. Catherine Duval feels caught in the middle. Daughter of a French father and Mohawk mother and in love with a British man her loyalty is pulled in every direction.
The author vividly describes the hardships of the times including starving armies who force civilians to harvest food to feed them at great cost to their own families. The narrative describes a harrowing adventure that has very little to recommend it other than the fierce loyalty between Catherine and her sister and brother. I hated the way Catherine was deceived and used by people she should have been able to trust. This is definitely not a feel-good story with a sweet romance but is what seems to be a true representation of the horror of life during that time. Unexpected twists and turns pop up around every corner which helps keep the story interesting.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
I absolutely loved the characters, the setting, the time period, and the insights in universal human experience the author portrayed
Catherine Stands-Apart, the middle child of a Mohawk mother and French-Canadian fur trader father, has wavered between two worlds for as long as she can remember. When her mother and siblings deserted her abusive alcoholic father, she alone remained, yet refused to fully submit to his desires to form her into a proper French madamoiselle. She attempts to bridge these worlds, factoring trades and employing her sister and other Mohawk women to transport furs along the rivers which form the borders between nations, despite the hostilities between the French, English, and their respective native North American allies. That conflict, which has expanded from raiding parties into full-blown war, has brought famine to their doorstep. When her father ransoms a hostage, however, she is forced to face a buried pain far greater than an empty belly.
Set during the backdrop of the “Seven Years War” (which we Americans know as the “French and Indian War”), Between Two Shores captures Catherine Stands-Apart’s longing to find her own place in the constant tug between two disparate words and yearning for peace and security. She embarks on a perilous journey, and the crossing ripples of her past and her present will pull readers into her bateau’s wake. I was captivated by the depth of character developed in this single perspective story, which allowed Catherine’s voice to shine like sunlight dappling the ripples of her oar strokes. While the events surrounding her voyage form a fascinating tale, readers will find her emotional and spiritual journey as tumultuous and ultimately satisfying, despite the river’s bends and turns.
Award-winning author Jocelyn Green has crafted many memorable heroines, but none quite so vivid and fiercely vulnerable as Catherine. Readers who love Laura Frantz’s novels about the early American eastern frontier and Jane Kirkpatrick’s sweeping stories of westward migration will be enchanted by this new classic in Christian historical fiction. While I would have previously listed The Mark of the King as my favorite book by Jocelyn Green, Between Two Shores may take it’s place!
*Mini spoiler alert* Some readers who long for a traditional, predictable “happily ever after” may be disappointed by the ending, but I found it refreshing and satisfying. Sometimes the road less taken is exactly the right path – especially when the road is along the shadowy edges of a silver highway down a moonlit river.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are completely my own.
Can always trust a good read with this author. This book is one of my favorites. Mystery and history and sacrifice with so much emotion.
After only reading one book by Jocelyn Green, she is not bumped up to my favorite author list.
This book was completely and utterly amazing. It ripped my heart out and maybe stabbed it a few times for good measure, then put it right back in, but completely changed. This book was life changing. It was realistic. It was so wonderful and I learned so much from it.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings, the bottom line is this book is amazing and, if you enjoy heavy historical fiction filled with amazing lessons along the way, pick this one up!
I will be reading many more by Jocelyn Green in the future.
So much history and heart tugging sorrow with gritty reality! So hard to decide what I would do in her situation – born from a Mohawk mother and a French trader father. The author develops the struggles and harsh reality of this during war times so well. Family turmoil with one foot in each side and loyalties she can’t betray makes for a page turning read. I keep wanting to comment on the history and detail! It is done SO well! This is a bookshelf keeper for sure.
There are some books that are so rich in detail and so moving, they require savoring. Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green is one of those.
Catherine Stands-Apart is aptly named as she straddles two worlds. With a Mohawk mother and a French-Canadian father, Catherine is already torn between the two. When the man she once loved—the one who had asked her to marry him then disappeared—returns to her life, Catherine once again has to make a difficult choice. A choice that could lead to prison…or death. One that is made all the more difficult with the bitter news Samuel delivers.
Set during the Seven Years’ War (aka the French and Indian War), readers are immersed in Catherine’s world, given an inside look at both Mohawk customs and life and Canadian life. The vivid details of the land, the rivers, the battles, and the trade world that are all pieces of Catherine’s life come to life within these pages.
Catherine is a strong woman, living with a father who repeatedly disappoints her but caring for him and running their trading post, nonetheless. Yet, there is a vulnerability to this woman that made me sympathetic for her situation (and that continued to build throughout this book).
This is not an easy read. Green does not diminish the realities of war or life. But is a beautiful one that should not be missed.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Review Between Two Shores
Great story. Great characters. Rich in history. Rich in truth. Loved the way the title perfectly fits the story. Catherine, daughter of Mohawk mother and French Father, is named Stands Alone by her mother. Her alcoholic father names her Catherine. The setting is Quebec during the French and Indian war 1740-1760. When her mother dies, Catherine goes to help her father, leaving her brother and sister in the Indian Village, not far from her Father’s trading post. Thus, she begins to stand between two words. Two worlds that are at war. She could have been named Stands Strong too, since throughout the story she remains resilient, by faith she is steadfast- Catherine is genuinely standing on two shores and standing fast. The focus becomes a trio of women, all with different challenges that work together to accomplish a task. There are some brutal descriptions of war, yet the author does not send you to bed nauseous, but aware of how dangerous life was during those times. My favorite aspect was the author’s ability to craft words with beauty. I went back and studied how she made a sentence ”sing” as it painted a picture of the times. If you are looking for a romance, you might be disappointed. If you are looking for character-driven historical novel you will enjoy. Write on Jocelyn Green! Beautifully done. This book was provided by the publisher. No review required. Review Between Two Shores
This is a compelling story of Catherine Duvall, a young woman torn between her Mohawk mother and French father. It is set in Montreal around the time of the Seven Year War between the French and the British. When her mother dies, Catherine (aka Catharine Stands Apart) makes a decision to leave her Mohawk village and go live with her father. He has a trading post—and a drinking problem that makes him bitter, demanding, and even cruel. Catherine has a sister (Bright Star) and brother (Joseph) who don’t understand her choice to live with her father, but support her decisions. She takes in a young woman, Thankful, who is like a younger sister. Thankful was kidnapped as a child by Mohawk warriors from her home in New Hampshire: Catherine sees her at a slave auction in Montreal and rescues her by buying her freedom.
The story revolves around Catherine’s work at her father’s trading post and their attempts to remain neutral during the war between the French and the British. She and Thankful work hard, and Bright Star and Joseph work with her as well. Much of the story centers on Catherine’s efforts to help a man named Samuel, who was taken from his family and sold as a slave. He has information that can help bring the war to an end, but Catherine struggles with helping him, because it’s dangerous. I’ll let you read the story for yourselves: no spoilers!
I enjoyed the book: I found it engaging and loved the characters. This is a wonderful example of historical fiction. Several years ago, my husband and I took a trip to celebrate my retirement and one of our stops was Thunder Bay, where we toured an old Fort that included a trading post. I kept remembering the stacks of furs, beads, and goods as I read this book.
I give it two thumbs up! I’ve read every book written by Jocelyn Green; she does an extraordinary amount of research for each one and crafts stories that hook you in from page one.
I received a copy of the novel from publisher Bethany House. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
To be completely honest, when I discovered Between Two Shores was listed as Historical fiction and not solely labeled a love story, my romance-addict brain entertained some doubts. But then, I considered the author. I trusted Jocelyn Green’s storytelling panache. I knew she would take me on an incredible journey that would be as memorable as it is engaging. And at the risk of sounding smug, I have to say I was totally right! This story is achingly beautiful.
I’ve never really struggled writing reviews for stories, but this one, oh this one made me pause. I can easily rattle off the standard—It’s fabulous! Glad I read it!—but Between Two Shores isn’t your standard story. No, there’s something about it. The prose is lyrical, the descriptions are vivid, the characters burrow into your heart and remain with you. It’s like the moment you reach The End, you realize you’re not the same as when you had started reading—your soul’s refreshed. Yes, it’s fiction, but the strokes of grace are indelibly brushed on your heart.
Catherine is a character not to be forgotten. Her journey is an emotional experience, much more than just words on a page. It’s felt. The reader feels her self-sacrifice, bears the depths of her wounds, but also lives that pivotal moment where unconditional love—one that’s greater than any hurt —becomes the pillar of her existence. Oh this story!!!
Samuel is the epitome of loyalty. One who always endeavors to protect, to accomplish what is right even to his own momentary pain. He has some beautiful lines of wisdom, such as:
“God is not hemmed in by church or chapel. He does not belong to priests alone. He is no respecter of the lines drawn between nations, armies, or empires, but lives within you, wherever you are. You cannot get away from Him. He is here because He dwells in you. Do not be afraid.”
These characters, friends!!! Each carry their own story. Their own scars and victories. I’ve learned so much from each of them.
I’m grateful for authors who take risks with their storytelling because it’s between those pages where we, as readers, grow. Develop right alongside the characters. Thank you, Jocelyn Green, for penning another novel that nestled its way into my heart.
*I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Jocelyn Green’s latest historical novel Between Two Shores captures the essence and the rich historical details of the Seven Years’ War in the 1700s in Montreal. Readers are immediately drawn to this book by its beautiful and captivating cover. Green tells the story of Catherine Duval who is “caught between two worlds” being the daughter of a Mohawk mother and a French father. In addition to her heritage, her former fiancé is a British prisoner who was purchased by her father to work for him. Suddenly they both find themselves in danger and in the midst of the conflict.
Green created a well-researched novel filled with history, heartbreak, and courage that readers of historical fiction will find interesting. She does not shy away from the pain and cruelty that many faced as victims of war. Readers will learn a lot of history that they did not know before. This book is a longer read and switches back and forth between different time periods in the characters’ lives. It is not a historical romance novel, but I would recommend it for readers who enjoy historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
I feel like I’ve read a lot of books lately that have left me in the book fog. Jocelyn has masterfully integrated twists and turns that leave the readers speechless in the most unexpected of times. Her writing is impeccable despite leaving me a puddle of muddled emotions.
Catherine’s character was developed incredibly. Half Mohawk and half French, she finds herself torn between two worlds. As a young girl following the death of her mother, she decides to leave her siblings and the life she’s always known to live with her father. When she was younger her father lived with his family among the Mohawks, but after an accident that left him injured he left and sought relief in a bottle. Feeling a conviction to help care for her father, Catherine moves in with him. It broke my heart to see how she was treated by him growing up, and how no matter how terribly he treated her–she still hoped for his love and approval. No matter where she went she felt as if she didn’t belong. To the Mohawks she was too French, and to the French she was too Mohawk. Her heart wanted to please all but it was an impossible feat.
Loss through violence is something almost all of the characters shared through personal experience. Both indentured servant’s of Catherine’s father (Samuel and Thankful) watched their families brutally murdered and scalped before their eyes as young children. Years later the traumatic memories continued to haunt them. Catherine was aware that both sides in the war were responsible for horrible crimes but it was as if she carried the guilt for both sides of her heritage. She desperately wanted peace so that the violence would come to a hopeful end.
There are a few things that I would love to talk about but won’t because they would absolutely spoil you, but just know that this book managed some pretty big twists and turns I didn’t see coming at all. I was stuck in the book fog for the larger part of the end of this book! Despite having other things to do I refused to close the book until I had made it to the end. I absolutely highly recommend this one!
*I received a copy of this book from the author. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
From the very first book I read by Jocelyn Green I was impressed and just when you think she couldn’t possibly top her other books, she amazingly does!
Once I started I just couldn’t put it down, reading 75% the first day!
I am always so impressed with the research she puts into her books to make them accurate and this is one of the reasons I love historical fiction, what I can learn from it.
The book drew me into it’s depths and I really felt as though I was there with these amazing characters. Catherine Duval is a half Mohawk, half French daughter of a trapper, Gabriel Duval. She is a very strong The author doesn’t sugar coat things in the book the way it’s described is the way people really lived back then. It takes place in Montreal, Quebec in 1759.
Catherine is caught between two worlds her Indian side and trying to please her French father.
It was refreshing to read a novel that didn’t have romance in it that concentrated so much on historical detail instead.
I highly recommend this to all who enjoy historical fiction. Historical fiction readers will definitely have space on their bookshelves for this authors’ books.
Published February 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers. I was provided with a complimentary copy. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved this book. I have been trying to find more and more books to read in this time period and was not disappointed when I got the chance to read this one. As with the other books I have ready by Jocelyn I enjoy this author’s writing style. She also makes sure that her research really shows. I am sure it was hard for Catherine to have to choose whether or not to help Samuel. The author does a good job of showing how Catherine is feeling through her writing. This book was full of emotions and adventure. This is a must read book of this season.
Wow!! What an amazing book!
I loved this story.
This story takes place during the Seven Year’s War in Kahnawake, Quebec. This story follows the life of Catherine Stands-Apart. Catherine’s character immediately pulled me into this story. She shows her strength of character in the first few pages. With the death of her mother at a young age she leaves everything familiar and her tribe to go live with her father. This was her choice and she did it because she didn’t want him to be alone. Catherine is a woman who lives in two very different worlds. She chose to live in her father’s world, but easily moves within her mother’s world. She has essentially taken over the running of her father’s trading post and with that it has become more profitable. Catherine is a hard worker, but she has a tender heart. As the story progresses Catherine must finally make a choice, British or French side. All she knows is that she wants the war and strife to end. Life is hard enough just living day to day, but add war into that and it’s so much harder. Choices can make life not only hard, but also deadly. Catherine’s choice shows her as not being a victim, but as being a survivor.
This story is not a romance, but more of a drama as it centers around Catherine and her life choices. It brings complex and engaging characters that will tug on her heart strings. It brings elements of mystery, suspense, turmoil, romantic tension, and a rich backstory. This historical captures time and place accurately. Once I started this book I didn’t want to put it down.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves historical or just a good clean read.
**I received this book from the author via the publisher. I was not expected to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was very eager going into “Between Two Shores”, as it was my first time reading a book by Jocelyn Green. The cover is beautiful, evoking a sense of what story lies within its pages.
Our heroine, Catherine Stands-Apart has faced many trials and hardships, had her heart-broken, and her trust betrayed. But she is strong – through all she has weathered, she refused to be broken, and she continued on.
This novel set during the 7 year war gave a fascinating glimpse into its history. I didn’t know much about this time period, but I was enlightened through this book and I am glad for it.
The author depicts the history with respect and grace, her writing flowing perfectly to fit.
It was a little slow at first, and I admit I had a hard time connecting until a certain even happened. Until then, I was involved but not entrenched, if that makes sense.
There was a occurance that shocked me and I felt the betrayal Catherine felt, although I feel like she moved past it pretty quickly. And maybe that is realistic for many people, but I would have liked to have seen her grapple with it a little while longer. I’m not saying to withhold forgiveness but matters of the heart aren’t always solved in a matter of hours.
Following Catherine’s journey was special, and I enjoyed it!
I really loved Catherine’s sister, Bright Star. She was rough around the edges to be sure, but her character was intriguing and full of depth. Joseph Many Feathers, their brother, was also a favorite.
This isn’t your typical light-everything-is-awesome kind of story, but it is beautiful nonetheless. There is heartache, and there are many, many trials, but the ending was perfect, and very poignant.