Between Two Shores is Jocelyn Green's novel of the French and Indian war. Catherine Stands Apart a woman of French and Mohawk descent runs the trading post for her French father and trades with the Voyageurs and the natives. She spans two peoples belonging to neither. I enjoyed most of the book with it's depiction of life at that time. Ms. Green has certainly done her research and she paints a picture of life at that time. She has created strong female characters in Catherine, her sister Bright Star and Thankful the girl she ransomed.The only part I did not enjoy was the gory description of battle injuries. I believe that Ms. Green's storytelling skills are growing with each novel she writes. So grab a mug of tea and settle in for a great read, I believe you will love Catherine as much as I do!

2.5 stars.

This book was my most anticipated 2019 release. Green has quickly become my favorite historical fiction author, so I was greatly looking forward to reading Between Two Shores.

Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. The cover is honestly the best thing about this book.

I loved the rich, complex plots in the previous Jocelyn Green books I have read, so I had high hopes for this one. But to be honest, this book really didn't feel like it had a plot for the first three-quarters of it. The first 45% was almost entirely backstory, and therefore the story took seemingly forever to get going. The ending was very sweet, and I was happy to see some reconciliation between certain characters. I also loved the themes of faith. The final few scenes were very powerful. Although I feel like they could have been far more impactful if spread throughout the book instead of hinted at here and there until the end.

The characters also felt rather flat to me. I didn't even like them, no less empathize with them until more than halfway through the book - and even then, I still didn't really like Simon. [SPOILER] I'm sorry, dude. You are a manipulator, and I am very mad that you let Catherine start to fall in love with you again even though you were married. Which you somehow neglected to tell her until well on your journey. [END SPOILER] I feel like Catherine had the potential to be a really fabulous character, but honestly, she just wasn't there. Also, the lack of romance - while not necessarily a bad thing, I suppose - really threw me, as I was expecting one until a plot twist about 65% through the book.


Overall, I think this had the potential to be a really amazing piece of fiction. But unfortunately, it just didn't hit the mark for me.

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 through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Jocelyn Green's book, "Between Two Shores" is a wonderful book. Full of adventure, it pulls at your emotions. Joy, sadness and forgiveness are some of those emotions. Catherine has to decide if she should risk her heart and her life by helping her former fiance. But when Samuel's life is put in danger and he has to get a message to his commander she decides to help him and be his guide through enemy territory. There they make discoveries, become involved in much danger and risk for her and her family. I enjoyed this book and look forward to many more books by Jocelyn Green.

I received this book from Jocelyn Green/Bethany House/NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

I loved this book!! The story is overflowing with history, with excitement, with family drama, with cultural differences. I couldn't put it down. It will tug at your emotions and make you want to keep reading. Each character is so unique and multi-faceted, I couldn't begin to list them all. Each one blends perfectly with the core of the story and plays an essential part. I'm so glad that Jocelyn Green chose to write this story and am looking forward to reading it again and again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

There’s a solemn tone throughout this book as we go back and forth in time and slowly unveiling the divide in which Catherine Stands-Alone lives.
She might believe she lives in neutrality, but deep down she knows that’s impossible. Will she do what she must or will she continue as she is, only to eventually truly find herself alone?

I want to come back and write some more, but first I must wrap my head around this story.

I agree this might be Jocelyn Green’s best so far. After reading such a book I can only commend the author and thank her for writing it. Well done!

Having read all of Jocelyn Green’s books to date, I have to say this is her best one yet! This story is so original and rich in historic detail! It is so different from anything I have read before. I absolutely loved it! There were some hard topics in this book, but I think they were written with grace. This book deserves to be read multiple times! I highly recommend it!



I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I love Jocelyn Green stories. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, and she does it so well. I love how Jocelyn tells you what is fact and what is fiction at the end of the book. She is an amazing storyteller, you can tell she's done her homework with impeccable research, compelling characters, and vivid descriptions. It was easy to imagine Catherine straddling the two cultures she was born into (she is the daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father), and being at the her father's trading post, trading with both sides, the British and the French during the Seven Years War, or traveling along the river to help a friend escape, a dangerous journey that brings them closer to the fighting in Between Two Shores. This war torn story is rich in history, courage, hope and family, don't miss it!!!

I received a copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.

I've had a book hangover for several days since finishing this. The story is gripping and the characters stay with you. Jocelyn Green has written another fabulous book. Rich is history, full of memorable characters, this is a must-read.

I received a copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.

A great book! So much wonderful history, gave me a new perspective on all that I have to be thankful for in our great country. And those who fought to make it that way. Wonderful characters! I couldn’t pick any one favorite character because I enjoyed each roll they contributed to the story. Catherine was such a strong and incredible woman, she gave a part of herself too all. There is so much to love about this book. The 1700’s was such a horrible time for so many, people starving, to the Indians and the war. I cried reading this book, it touched me to the core. You will feel so much while reading this book you won’t want it to end. I’m hoping for a sequel!

Between Two Shores—A Review

Catherine Duval remembers better days when Gabriel Duval didn’t drown himself in cups of wine. A chronic alcoholic, he’s still a caring father when sober, but when he’s drinking, he mixes her up in his mind with the native wife who divorced him. At those times, he takes out his anger and resentment on Catherine. For her part, she focuses on the good times and walks on eggshells in the bad, but the turmoil at home heightens her longing for peace, something she finds hard to acquire.

France and England fight over control of New France and New England impacting the area’s economy. Her Lachine fur trading business, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, gains no exception. Situated across from Montreal, she finds herself in the midst of conflicting forces tugging at her desire to remain neutral. She must balance upon a tightrope. In order to keep her business thriving, she must trade between two powerful nations battling for dominance. Still she manages well until her former British fiancé returns as a servant courtesy of her father’s indolence and avarice.

When Gabriel Duval acquires prisoner Samuel Crane, Catherine’s heart does a double take. She thought she was over him after he had abandoned her to find his brother, but now she must decide if she’ll help him carry important military information to the English, to General Wolfe, in order to shorten the war and bring peace to the region. To do so would be no small feat which would require her to paddle with Samuel along the St. Lawrence between opposing forces. Any misstep could end both their lives. If caught by the French, she would be branded a traitor and execution would be her fate, but when she arrived among the English, they might suspect her motives. Being half-Mohawk and half French, she might be imprisoned or executed. Catherine must decide if she should take the risk and assist her former fiancé. If she does, will she be killed or survive? Will her heart endure constant contact with her former love? Will her endeavor aide the cause of peace?

Jocelyn Green’s writing sparkles like sunshine glistening upon rippling water. Her high prose rises to poetic in places while her plot compels the reader to flip pages and see what happens next. Like an incoming tide, urgency carries the reader along seeking to know how the story will end. Even if one is a history buff and knows how native and colonial history ended, this author makes the era surge with life. Although constrained by historic events, Jocelyn Green weaves a tapestry of intricate design bursting with vibrant color. This is a book to be cherished and read and reread. It’s that good.

Having said as much, the reader will simply have to buy the book when it is released on February 5, 2019 to find out what happens to Catherine and Samuel as they run the gauntlet through French territory to bring crucial intelligence to the English.

This reader received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are solely my own.