What an incredible book! It makes you want to go out and help someone. It makes you want to be a better person. This book may not be the actual story of someone's life, but I am sure it accurately portrayed many young women's lives. This is the story of Eliza "Lizzie James", whose family consisted of a loving mother, younger brother, evil father and cruel aunt. Eliza's father left her mother and went to live near the beach in Belize. He convinced his wife and kids to come visit him. There he held Eliza in "the Palace" for ten years after telling her that her mother and brother were drowned in the ocean. The Palace is a place were young girls are trafficked for sex and drugs are sold. Eliza is untouched because her father needs a bargaining chip, but she is forced to help bring in other young girls. When Eliza almost drowns as a young girl she is rescued by Jack Ryder. Years later she is reintroduced to him when he goes undercover to bust the drug and sex trafficking ring. Jack feels there is something special about Eliza but he doesn't know what at first.

This book will stir up all kinds of emotions in you. There is anger that sex trafficking could happen, compassion for all those who are or have suffered. I laughed and cried all through this book. I was scared at times for the characters, but they came through. I felt the peace of God as Jack talked with God. I loved this book and I hope others do too. I would like to thank Karen Kingsbury and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this book.

I started to read this book and had to double check who the author was! I don’t remember Ms. Kingsbury’s other books being quite this suspenseful. I loved it! I guess the only part I didn’t like as well was Eliza’s character on her first FBI assignment. I didn’t like her playing games with Jack. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed the book. I will definitely recommend it at my next book club meeting!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Karen Kingsbury has always taken on difficult, and timely topics, with finesse and great storytelling abilities. Her writing and storytelling style often remind me of another favorite author, Jodi Piccoult. In A Distant Shore, Ms. Kingsbury takes on the extremely challenging and disturbing issue of human trafficking in a very realistic and troubling story about a young woman who grows up in the shadow of the trafficking ring run by her own father. This book kept me awake all night to see what would happen next. I literally could not put it down. When Jack enters her life to help break up her father's trafficking and drug empire, Lizzie at first does not trust him but reluctantly agrees to help. I hesitate to say too much in order to avoid spoiling the storyline. What I do offer is that I highly recommend this novel to fans of Karen Kingsbury, and to fans of strong suspense novels. It is thrilling and chilling at the same time.

Karen Kingsbury opens your eyes to the evil of sex trafficking rings in her new book, A Distant Shore. She does not go into graphic details but you still see the ugly truth of what is happening to young, innocent girls around the world. She also shows us the heroes who put their own lives in danger to help rescue these girls. Jack Ryder is one of those heroes. He had a lot of loss in his life, which has made him an excellent undercover FBI agent who walks into all kinds of danger to help break up these sex trafficking houses. Eliza Lawrence loses her mother and brother at a young age and is forced to live in a sex trafficking house, more like a prison, run by her evil father. Her only reason for wanting to live is to help bring down these evil people and save young girls lives. Eliza hates all men and when she has to team up with Jack, she struggles to focus on what is right and what are lies.
Jack starts to have feelings for Eliza but knows he has to keep his distance. He turns his heart back to God and finds true purpose in his life again. Can Eliza ever trust Jack or others after so much has happened in her life? Karen Kingsbury does another excellent job writing this story. I love the last chapter!
I thank Net Galley and Atria Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Where do I even start in reviewing this book. I have read all of the books written by Karen Kingsbury and this is undoubtedly the most thought-provoking, heart-wrenching book yet. Be prepared that it is not a “feel good” type of book, but one that will remain with you long after you have finished reading it.

So different from any of her other books, the author takes on the dark subject of sex-trafficking in a way that makes it very informative to those readers who are not very aware of this horrible event taking place in our world today.

Horrific captivity, pain, heartbreak, friendship, redemption, forgiveness and love are all elements comprising the overall in-depth turns that comprise this book.

You will fall in love with the main characters of Jack and Eliza as you learn the trials, and dangers they face as FBI agents trying to do their part in stopping human trafficking, along with drug trafficking.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book that has left such an impression on my mind and soul.

Sometimes miracles happen not once, but twice along a distant shore.

Karen Kingsbury, in “A Distant Shore,” explores how good can rise out of the ashes of something evil. Much darker and edgier than any of her previous books, this book deals with the sex trafficking crisis in our world. Approached with care, Kingsbury doesn’t whitewash the issue, yet uses the incident to inform readers that there’s no situation, no matter how dark, that we can’t see God’s hand in if we only allow him to help us.
Jack Ryder, a teen from the East Coast, is on vacation with his family when he sees a child caught in the riptide in the Caribbean Sea. The simple act of dropping everything and swimming out to save her changes both their lives.

Fast forward ten years and Jack is now an FBI agent investigating a sex trafficking ring on the same island as the rescue and discovers that Eliza is the daughter of his target. She is being forced by her father into marriage with a local drug lord. Again, there’s something in Jack that draws him to save Eliza. This time they’ve both got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Can they put the past behind them and imagine a different future…even when the stakes are high? What is he willing to do this time to save her?

WOW. JUST WOW. This is a nail-biting, heart-wrenching novel. I was amazed at the determination and resilience of both Jack and Eliza; they were in difficult situations beyond their control and dug deep to find the strength to change their reality. In the process, their faith grows and the seed of overcoming blossoms. This is not an easy read. I put it down several times and pushed myself to finish it. Not because it was poorly written, but because of the content. We can’t bury our head in the sand and pretend horrific things like this don’t happen. Kingsbury brings it to light so that we are encouraged to do the little we can do to help stop this crime. In reality, there’s not always a happy ending. I was thankful to be reminded that despite the ugliness in the world, there are people out there who daily strive to make this world a better place.

Thank you to Karen Kingsbury, Atria Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publishes April 27, 2021.

A Distant Shore by Karen Kingsley is a different book than her previous books.
Jack is an FBI agent investigating human trafficking, Eliza is the daughter of his target. Jack lives for the job, he puts his life on the line, without care if he comes home at the end of the day. Eliza wants to right her dads wrongs, both have been alone a long time. I loved these characters, they had such strength, resilience, determination and they are both more alike than they can admit. After all the ugly they have seen in the world, their faith becomes stronger.
While written in true Karen Kingsley style , it was a deeper, grittier novel with deep characters, romance, action and scripture. I highly recommend this book !

When FBI Secret Agent, Jack Ryder, is sent on a secret mission to Belize to break up a drug/sex trafficking ring, his world converges with Eliza Lawrence, the daughter of the drug lord. She is arranged to be married with a fellow drug king pin. Little does she know, her world is about to be changed forever.

This book was unbelievably riveting. It was inspirational, romantic, and suspenseful! This was one of the best books I have read in a long time!

Eliza is the "princess" in a sex trade circle. Jack is the FBI assigned to save her. In doing so, he realizes that they met years ago in a life shattering tragedy. This is a story of overcoming troubles, following your heart and trusting in God.

I have to admit, this story line was a struggle to read at times. Sex trafficking is hard to read about, however, Karen did a great job showing that good can come from evil. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the first chapter, I found myself quickly treading water. Taking a deep breath, I realized 'A Distant Shore' wasn't going to be a family drama but a darker more sinister read. Trusting that the subject matter wouldn't deter me from enjoying the book, I took the plunge and was swept away by the story.

At first glance, Eliza and Jack's lives seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. As the book progresses, it's brought to the surface that they are struggling to put the past behind them after surviving situations beyond their control. Without giving away too much of Eliza's story, their lives intertwine as they bond over their mission to save others. Will Eliza and Jack be able to bridge the gap or be left floating separately on distant shores?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. Karen Kingsbury's novels deserve the classification 'life-changing fiction.' I cried through the painful moments and my tears provided healing. Make sure to have tissues on hand as you'll need them throughout the novel's twists and turns.

Stories live on in our memories and by sharing special books with others. This is that type of novel. To close, a message from the author penning the power of words and sharing hope with others.

"As you close the cover on this book, do me a favor. Think about who you can share this with. A friend or a sister. Your mother or a co-worker. The librarian at your local high school. Someone struggling to make sense of a loss or someone who needs to believe they can find life again. Maybe just a person who loves to read. Please give this book away when you finish it. Remember, a story dies if it is left on the shelf. So please pass this one on." (Karen Kingsbury)

With her book "A Distant Shore", Karen Kingsbury developed a novel unlike any she's written before -- and it's fantastic! Based on the life of Eliza (a young girl who is torn from her loving mother and brother, and thrown into the trafficking business run by her father) and Jack (the FBI agent tasked with saving her), Kingsbury does a fantastic job of showing the reality of sex trafficking without getting too graphic. I appreciated the romance between the two main characters, and the mixture of chemistry and trust that develops between them. This was an excellent novel, and I look forward to more like this from Kingsbury.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Karen Kingsbury continues to consistently write stories that both entertain and show the love of Jesus Christ. A Distant Shore was a thriller, love story, and testimony of God's love for us. Ms. Kingsbury brought attention to the growing problem of human trafficking in the world and I applaud her for this. Thank you again for another great book!

Lizzie/Eliza is a young girl trapped in her father's sex ring. While she isn't sold, she knows she will be as her dad is saving her for something special. Jack is an FBI agent who has lost his family and no longer has a reason to care if he comes home, he only cares if the mission is a success. This book is gritty, while not graphic. It delves into the world of sex trafficking and is realistic about how it is done, without going into detail of what is done to the children that are trafficked. Sex trafficking is a huge problem in all countries around the world and this book helps bring awareness in a gentle way. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to give my voluntary and honest opinion on #ADistantShore, it's a much needed book.

This book was sometimes hard to read because of the sex trafficking issues. I didn't realize how serious they were until now. It made me count my blessings and I am grateful every day for my life. Karen Kingsbury has done it again, she made this a really good book. while tackling some of the toughest issues. I loved the ending . I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review

This was a much darker topic but allowed for awareness to occur. It made you think and yet still had entertainment value. It was well done.

I've been a long time reader of Karen Kingsbury, this new novel is different than her previous work but definitely one of my favourites! Although this story deals with a very dark subject matter it is handled well and there are some light moments between Jack Ryder and Eliza Lawrence too. They both grow in their faith and their love for each other throughout the novel. Their story is a fascinating one to read and I'm thankful that this novel will bring light to an unfortunate social injustice we are facing today. Definitely recommend!

3.5 ⭐'s

This was unexpected. I usually try and stay away from faith based books simply because little f faith and big F faith are two different things. But this book bridges that gap without feeling like you've been lectured into the next millennium. In other words, it's a gentle romance with the focus more on serendipity than the heavy hand of the "creator", which I really appreciate. Writing is well done, story line was interesting. I'd recommend this book if you like clean, well written romance with a little faith based message and a little edge.


I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! I loved this book. Another outstanding novel from Karen Kingsbury. The topic was sex and drug trafficking and Ms. Kingsbury met them head on. Not your typical Kingsbury book but I believe it’s one of her best!

Nineteen-year-old Eliza Ann Lawrence, nicknamed the Princess, lived in a place known as The Palace in Belize City. What went on at The Palace was the stuff of nightmares, not fairy tales. Eliza’s father ran a sex-trafficking operation, and was about to be taken down by the FBI. Jack Ryder, dedicated FBI agent and expert undercover operative, was tasked with posing as Eliza’s groom in an arranged marriage. Would Eliza be willing to cooperate with the authorities to ensure her freedom and help rescue the rest of the girls in her father’s organization? Would Jack be able to resist his growing attraction to Eliza? Find out in this departure from author Karen Kingsbury’s usual subject matter. Especially appealing to fans of Terri Blackstock or Dee Henderson, this novel of suspense, intrigue and second chances will keep readers immersed in action from the very first page.