This was a book I didn't even know I needed until I read it. The topic is so timely and really struck me as I read it. I loved the premise of the story and the strength of the characters as they navigated the challenges in their lives. A great romance and a humbling call to return to God.

If you’ve been waiting for Karen Kingsbury to bring her talent to Christian romantic suspense genre, the wait is over! While this is her first novel in this genre, I hope it is not the last. You will enjoy A Distant Shore! It was well-paced and a great read while tackling two sensitive subjects: sex trafficking and losing family members through tragedy. Kingsbury does an outstanding job sharing some of the sobering realities without being gratuitous. Her modest approach keeps the focus on the characters and their transformations.

Karen Kingsbury returns to the subject of human trafficking for the second time. Her first book on the subject was Divine which I highly recommend. I love A Distant Shore. The story demonstrates how God protects us even in the worst environments. I loved Jack and Eliza. They felt very real to me. The plot was engaging and fast-paced. The subject matter was difficult but Karen tactfully handled it. I would recommend that teens read this book so that they are aware of the dangers in our world.
So grab your favorite beverage and settle in for a good read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

This book was grittier than most of Karen’s books, and I’ve read almost all of them. The subject of human trafficking is horrific and I feel that she did an incredible job with it in this book. Jack and Eliza both came from sad and broken backgrounds, and I loved watching God bring healing into their lives. Highly recommended!

Absolutely LOVED this book. I think KIngsbury did a spectacular job writing about a very sensitive yet prevalent topic that affects our world (human trafficking), and she did it in a way that even sensitive readers can navigate. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. I've gotten some fun comments (and hopefully some new Kingsbury converts) from my post on Bookstagram of the book.

I have read most of Karen Kingsbury's books and love them. The topic of A Distant Shore is not her normal theme and was more difficult to read because of the atrocities of the topic. Reading the back matter of the book the author herself explains the rationale behind the book and the challenge to write such a story. Sex-trafficking is, sadly, a very current crime that is occurring in just about every city in the U.S. and something that I would not normally choose to read about in a fiction or non-fiction book. That being said, Kingsbury was not graphic in her descriptions of what was happening to the young girls but the story could be a trigger for anyone who has experienced abuse. There is a beautiful theme of redemption in the book, as well, that lead me to keep reading and a love story which is my genre of choice. While I typically recommend Karen Kingsbury books without hesitation, A Distant Shore will be one I recommend with caution. By reading this book I am much more aware of what is happening in our world and we, as a society, can no longer turn a blind eye to these crimes but must stop them. While this book is not a graphic depiction of the crime, the awareness that it can bring is invaluable and will hopefully lead to reform, harsher punishment to the perpetrators and protection of the victims.

Book Review for A Distant Shore by Karen Kingsbury
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

The blurb on this story starts ten years ago when Jack Ryder was sixteen vacationing with his family at the shore, he sees a child struggling in a dangerous currant and swims out and saves her.
But it turns out to be so much more than THAT.
The little girl Eliza Ann Lawrence was once called Lizzie Susan James. Her daddy left their Mennonite Village for an important job at the Palace in Belize City.
The family is supposed to follow. However only Lizzie/ Eliza moves in with her daddy and she is told that her Mama and Daniel, her brother never made it as they were lost at sea.

The other girls in the Palace believe Eliza must be a princess as the men didn’t visit her at night.
Eliza’s daddy told her that he was saving her for someone special! (Yep there is more to this)

It is true that Eliza went out swimming in hopes to find her mother and Daniel. Jack does save Eliza but his brother Shane also tried to save her only he wasn’t as knowledgeable about undertow/rip currents and took on too much water and he died.
(At this point the story sure changes for me!)

Present day Jack is an FBI Agent investigating a sex trafficking ring on Belize that same island.
Eliza is no longer a child but a young lady approaching her 20th birthday. She is being forced by her own father into an unwanted marriage. (Hmm saving her for someone special comes to mind.)
It appears the arranged marriage to Henry Thomas Ellington IV would join two drug and sex trafficking dynasties.
This story gets very involved but I don’t want to give it away

I will tell you that this ended with me having a smile on my face.

I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgement. In this case, I was sure there would details on her extensive research.
I was a tad disappointed that she didn’t offer resources. Sex trafficking is a ‘real’ thing; I thought the mention of where suspicions can be reported would be helpful.

I know of a student in a nice safe suburban who was suspicions of sex trafficking and reported it.
Happily the girls were found and the ring was stopped! However, to be saved she and her family were placed in ‘Witness Protection’.
So even a simple suspicion will be investigated and can bring good results.

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this eGalley granted to me early for a honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 27, 2021

I don't even know where to begin, except to say I was blown away by this book. I have always been a Karen Kingsbury fan, reading many of her books, but this one has shot towards the top of my list of favorites. It wasn't at all what I expected - the suspense, the topic that it covered entwining the life of an FBI agent with that of a daughter of a sex trafficking king. I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in two sittings (which these days, with my busy life, is a very rare occurrence to knock out a book that quickly). I think that Jack and Eliza will stay etched my heart for a long while, the story will stay in my mind and I'll think of both hope and unimaginable heartbreak when I think of A Distant Shore. And, I can't end this review without saying how much I LOVED the appearance of Beck. Karen, thank you for writing this story, opening my eyes to such a tragic lifestyle that is real and for making me feel connected to Jack and Eliza. It shows how amazing a writer is when you know the story will stay with you long after you're done.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A very different type of book for Karen Kingsbury. The first half of the book really captured this reader and I kept wondering if I was reading a Karen Kingsbury book. For fans of Karen Kingsbury, the second half of the book, was closer to her previous titles.
Having said that, this book was throughly enjoyable and enlightening on the subject of human trafficking. Readers will find themselves rooting for Eliza to break away from the world of human trafficking and feel comfortable with the budding romance between her and Jack. Karen Kingsbury is a master storyteller and A Distant Shore proves that she can tackle even tough subjects with a forward plot and characters that the reader will empathize with.
I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book is way different than any other Karen Kingsbury books I have read. This one is gritty and full of spine tingling suspense. I was hooked from the first page. This story deals with a very disturbing and horrible subject. Sex trafficking. The author, however handles it very well without getting too graphic. I couldn't put the book down. If I did I worried about Eliza and Jack and couldn't wait to pick it up again. There is also so much hope and love she weaves throughout the novel and it offers hope for second chances in Christ Jesus no matter what life was like before. Of course there is a beautiful romance with sweet kisses and a happily ever after. I hope Kingsbury will write more romantic thrillers in the future. Well done!
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Karen Kingsbury does it again. Timeless as all her stories are. Full of faith and love. It's refreshing to see another new title of hers.

This was most definitely a different book coming from Karen Kingsbury. It deals with human trafficking, but in the most tasteful way, if there is such a thing. The story flows and the characters are believable. But this book is so different than any she's written before. It will open your eyes but not turn you off. I urge all book clubs to consider this title.

Thank you to Karen Kingsbury for an Arc for an honest review.

A Distant Shore by Karen Kingsbury. A very well written story about some very tough goings on in the world. Reminded me of the type of story the TV show Touched By An Angel with Michael Landon would bring to the TV audience. If you like Karen Kingsbury you will like this book.

Every book that I read by Karen Kingsbury is better than the last! I've loved her books from the beginning. This one did not disappoint. Karen has a way of drawing you into the story, falling in love with the characters, and so emotionally invested that you find yourself feeling the same emotions the characters are feeling. This is a beautiful story, one that is a bit hard to read because of the truth of the horrible things that goes on in this world, but one that needed to be shared and I'm glad Karen had the courage to write it. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

I have read almost all of Karen Kingsbury’s books, and this was her deepest and grittiest novel yet. I started reading this book not knowing what it was about, so it was hard for me to read at times because of how deep, raw, and heart-breaking the subject matter was. This book truly took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Ultimately, I was invested in Jack and Eliza’s stories and loved the redemption, forgiveness, and light that shined through at the end of the novel.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. When I started it, I didn't know if I would enjoy it due to the heavy subject matter, but she brought to light the ugliness that we need to be aware of in a thoughtful way. I especially appreciated what she said at the end of the book in the "note to readers." Karen Kingsbury has an amazing gift to be able to spin a captivating story while educating us on things we need to know.

This book felt so different than any of Karen Kingsbury’s other books. When I started reading, I did not realize that it wasn’t another Baxter story (I obviously didn’t pay attention to the description, just love everything she writes). But I was pleasantly surprised to find it as a stand alone novel. And it was excellent. It has the deep and emotional love story that she is known for, but also mixed with a darker side full of suspense. It will make you want to take a trip to the beach with your love, while also keep you aware and burdened by all of the evil in the world.

It kept me turning the pages and staying up later than I should have. Lizzie James (Eliza) and Jack Ryder are the type of character you are drawn to! I am thankful for Karen’s story telling ability and the way she draws you into a story. I did not want it to end.

I enjoyed reading A Distant Shore. It is a book that could come out of today's headlines. The main characters, Jack and Eliza, seem like real people who have suffered loss and are "going through the motions" of life. When their lives intersect, not once but twice, it has to be more than a coincidence. This is a powerful story of loss, survival, trust and love. This book may open readers' eyes to things going on in our country and around the world today. I know it gave me a lot to think about. A word of warning, once you start reading, you will not want to stop until you get to the end! I received a copy from the publisher and all opinions are my own.