Sadly this book was not for me. This is no bearing on the author, it’s just that I personally could not get into the book.

A historical novel set in Ireland during WWII, with a sprinkle of romance. I appreciated learning the history of this time and place. There was a lot I didn’t know about Irish men who joined the Allied Forces to fight, and how they were treated as traitors by many back home.

Trigger warning for domestic violence.

Just when you think you’ve learnt everything about WW2 another book pops up to prove you wrong. I do enjoy historical fiction but this one lent slightly more towards a romance but it was quite a pleasant read. I had no idea that Ireland treated their citizens as deserters if they joined the British in fighting the war, which carried on long after the war ended. The bond and loyalty between the sisters was heartwarming even when the rest of their family were against them. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Lake Union Publishing for letting me read and review this book.

I am a huge fan of books about WWII. This was a different view in that it focused on the people of Ireland during the war. To be honest, I was appalled at the level of bigotry against the Irish lads who chose to fight with Britain. The dual time line was a positive aspect of the book as well as being left in the dark about part of Aileen’s present day situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

"An Ocean Between Us" is an enjoyable novel with an interesting premise. The past and the present were interwoven well. I definitely enjoyed the plot and the characters more than I thought I would.

I was excited for this one based on the synopsis but unfortunately it fell flat for me. This one didn't work for me when I tried to read it and I ended up DNF at 15%

I loved this book. Set in Ireland during the war. Perfect historical romance novel with some heartache due to choices made. You won’t regret reading this book!
Reviewed on Goodreads, also.

I really enjoyed learning about this part of modern Irish history; which I knew nothing about.
I really enjoyed the main characters and I loved how the story evolved. I thought the book was well written and the two different era's flowed well. Also the fact that we didn't know who Aileen's husband was when she was living in New York.

It is 1943 & Europe is in the middle of WW2. Ireland is neutral but the troubles with Britain are still very much alive in the minds of many Irish people. Eighteen year old Aileen Sweeney longs to spread her wings. When she meets Irish soldier Niall she initially thinks him too brash but his persistence wins her round. He seems to get on well with her large family too. There appears to be a wedding in sight until Niall & his mates decide to join the British Army to fight in the war. To Aileen's family this is a betrayal of Niall's heritage. To the men of the family he is a traitor & Aileen is forbidden to see him again.

I loved this story and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Quinn and Lake Union Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For some reason I had trouble downloading this book-sorry for the lack of feedback! I'm not sure what happened.

Fascinating insight into Ireland's often overlooked wartime role, which really give the plot a unique dimension. Loved the characters and the storytelling, brilliant writing. I hope to read a lot more of Rachel Quinn's historical novels as this one was a blinder. If like me, you love wartime historical novels, you'll love this one!

It is 1943 and the world is at war. In a small town in IrelandAileen Sweeney and Niall O'Rourke meet at a dance. She was 18 at the time and he was a soldier. And like the world at war, theirs was an instant explosion of love. Yet, not long after their promise to commit to one another, they were rocked with a decision testing their love and commitment to one another. He had joined the British army. Called a traitor to Ireland by Aileen's father, he was no longer welcome to their house, Aileen was no longer allowed to see him. Could they survive that decision that set them apart, from Niall being a suitor one day to becoming far removed from Aileen and her family? This was the core of the entire book!

For me, after reading many historical books about Ireland, this one was less than stellar. With no substance behind it, I found it too simplistic. I finished it, not because I liked it, but because I felt I owed the publisher and NetGalley something for requesting it. Therefore, I will give my thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Rachel Quinn. The story is set during The second world war. It set in southern Ireland and tells the story of Aileen. She is 18 when she meets Niall who joins the British Army. Aileen family disapprove and make it difficult for them to be together. I liked the characters, Aileen was very likeable. I enjoyed the book as it was well written. Perfect for fans of family dramas and historical fiction.

A book set in World War 2 and based in Ireland. It was enjoyable and an easy read. It was interesting to read more about the emotions of the time about Irish soldiers joining the British army & how they were treated. It was not a heavy or serious read by any means though.

I rather liked the cover, which initially drew my attention to this book. I very much enjoyed this story and do hope to read more by this author. Very well written and do recommend.

I got an early review copy of this book from netgalley because it was in the historical fiction category. While it does take place in WWII Ireland, this is really just a poorly written historical romance, with the emphasis on the romance. Aileen lives in a small town in Wicklow County with her many siblings and parents. She falls in love with Niall, an Irishman who is considered a deserter for joining the British army during WWII. Drama ensues. Meanwhile, Aileen also meets Marvin, an American in the navy, who is also vying for her affections.

This book was hokey and corny. The writing rambling, especially with characters going on and on about really nothing. The romance was not believable and the characters were two-dimensional. Finally, the ending was rather predictable. While I often like many historical fiction books published by Lake Union, this was not one of them. There needed to be more substance and nuance - and a better story too.

Loved it.
I love a good historical read and this one didn't disappoint me.
I love how the author described the war through out the eyes of irish people. I enjoyed it very much and I recommend it for people who like a good historical books that take places in the war. I was always fascinated about how people lived back then in that periodof time and I really enjoy reading those kind of books. Thank you netgalley and the publisher giving me a chance to read this book.

It is 1943 & Europe is in the middle of WW2. Ireland is neutral but the troubles with Britain are still very much alive in the minds of many Irish people. Eighteen year old Aileen Sweeney longs to spread her wings. When she meets Irish soldier Niall she initially thinks him too brash but his persistence wins her round. He seems to get on well with her large family too. There appears to be a wedding in sight until Niall & his mates decide to join the British Army to fight in the war. To Aileen's family this is a betrayal of Niall's heritage. To the men of the family he is a traitor & Aileen is forbidden to see him again.

Parts of the book are told from 4o years in the future when Aileen is happily married & living in New York although we do not know who she has married!

I enjoyed this book. The character's were engaging & it shone a light on how the people of Ireland viewed the war.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

It was an interesting read especially with the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings due on June 6th 2019. Coincidentally, while reading the novel, there was a reference in the media about the inaccurate design of the commemorative stamp for the occasion. Initially, I found the style rambling with clunky, inconsequential and silly dialogue but the momentum of the plot gathered eventually. I didn't think it put the Irish in a good light and was shocked at the bigoted attitude displayed towards Niall especially from Aileen's ignorant, bullying family. I didn't take to Aileen. I found her immature, selfish, abrasive and downright rude especially to the GI, Marvin. Briana had the nicer nature of the two girls. I would have liked Niall's war experience to have been more fleshed out. It was the most auspicious and complex operation, of WW2 but the drama of it fell flat and only seemed to be a vague backcloth for the Irish bigotry. It was a missed opportunity. I enjoyed parts of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

If you're looking for historical fiction with a protagonist that will steal your heart with her outspokenness and bravery then this is the book for you. I never knew or thought about Ireland's involvement in WW2 until this book brought it to my attention. This book reminded me of what I love about historical fiction. We get to see and feel history through someone's perspective. We get to see what that era truly cost someone and we are better able to relate because we get to see our characters, the ones we have gotten to know, through these events. I think its my favorite way of learning about history and then it opens up my curiosity to go learn more about this period. This book certainly did that. I truly recommend it.