To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden

To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley to Review
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Book Description:  Naval officer Ryan Gallagher broke Jenny's heart six years ago when he abruptly disappeared. Now he's returned but refuses to discuss what happened. Furious, Jenny has no notion of the impossible situation Ryan is in. With lives still at risk, he can't tell Jenny the truth about his overseas mission--but he can't bear to lose her again either.



My thoughts: I read a lot of books. One thing that rarely happens is when a book captures most of my attention. When I was not reading this book, I was thinking about this book. My heart ached for the characters. I was drawn to the story of young love that is broken because of war.

This book takes place six years after Ryan and Jenny promised that they would marry when he came back from the Philippines. There has not been contact between the two other than a letter from Ryan saying that Jenny should forget about him. He comes back to the States with a half Japanese daughter and many unanswered questions. Jenny cannot trust him. He broke her heart and was married to another woman an ocean away.

I was caught up in this story. I understood both sides of the dilemma. (Of course, as a reader you are aware of information that one or more characters may not know.) I understood that Ryan could not be completely forthcoming because of the time he spent in Japan as a spy. I understood that Jenny had a horrible childhood that made it difficult for her to trust or let anyone in emotionally.

There are many great lessons in this book. One of my favorite moments is when Jenny is talking to Finn, a man being trained to become a spy in Japan. Jenny is telling Finn about her issues and asks how she should look at the little girl that is Ryan's daughter. He told her to look at her as a "gift from God". Sometimes difficult things happen to people, but a blessing can come from them, like an innocent and beautiful child.'

I won't say that this book is perfect, but the way that it made me feel was. I will take that as a gift.

This book has kissing, someone overcoming drug addiction, talk of past sexual activity, and violence. (Someone is trying to kill Ryan.)

Online Purchase Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

About the Author: (Taken from Amazon)  Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.

She regularly posts about the joys of the book world at http://elizabethcamden.com/blog