I loved the first book and learning all about English home children who were moved to Canada and adopted or indentured to families willing to take them in. I remember thinking I can't wait for the next book. I enjoyed this book greatly. It starts 10 years later which wasn't quite what I had expected, but the story continued, I learned more about the home children, and it was satisfying to really learn about the struggles and strains of four specific children as they were recalled and shared from their young adult perspective. We learn more of all the McAllister's but the focus of the book is on Garth and Grace McAllister, and Emma and Rob other home children who came alongside Garth in his indentured servant life.

I like that the author was intentional and focused on Psalm 9:9-10 and integrated this concept throughout the book. Love is the crucial theme that overcomes so much and affects our very being and existence. Lack of love and acceptance can impact a person's life greatly, but the love of God can impact it beyond even person to person or family love. I appreciate this theme's development across the book, and the central focus on faith, spiritual development, and learning to appreciate God.

Thankful to partner with Waterbrook Publishing and read an advanced copy of this sequel. It is a pleasurable read.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

No Journey Too Far is an intense historical novel set in the early 20th century with endearing characters and an intriguing plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the start and kept me enthralled until the end.

Grace McAlister is the heroine, and I met her character when she was introduced in No Ocean too Wide. She is ready for her debut to Toronto society, but when she finds an old trunk in the attic she’d brought with her from England when she was a little girl, she discovers a way to find the brother and sisters she remembers. She wants desperately to connect with them again. When her brothers arrives, she’s overjoyed but her adoptive parents bar him from their home.

Grace is not willing to accept this and goes with him, determined to travel to England to see her mother and her sisters, the mother she thought had died. That starts her adventure. She travels to a farm near Belville with her brother and his friend Rob, and soon falls for him.

Grace’s brother plays a huge part in this book. I also met him in the first McAlister Family book as well. He is determined to find his sweetheart, which sets him on his adventure, and when he finds Emma, he fears they will never have the life they both dream of.

There are dual romances in this tale between Grace and Rob and Garth and Emma. I thoroughly enjoyed their love stories, and Ms. Turansky masterfully tells both romances beautifully. I wanted both couples to find their happy endings.

If you enjoy historical fiction with enduring characters and a plot that will pull at your heart, then you will love No Journey Too Far as much as I did. When I accepted this novel, I didn’t realize it was book 2 of the McAlister Family series, so I read that one first, and I’m so glad I did because it added to my enjoyment a great deal. Happy reading!

I picked this up because I enjoyed the McAllister family in the first book as well as the orphan journeys from England to Canada. This book gives a good depiction of the different lifestyles Home Children were brought into as well as the suspicions regarding them.

There is a steady faith element as well as a few romantic threads. Readers of sweet romance and lost love will appreciate this story. Younger readers may want to be cautious as there are several mentions of men wanting to take advantage of young women.

A hint of mystery, family tension, and journeys across Canada and England are the basis of this story.

I personally had a hard time being invested in the story. The storyline was well-paced, but the characters just didn’t capture me.

*I received this book from the publisher and happily provided my honest review*

If you loved Before We Were Yours, you’ll love No Journey Too Far! 

No Journey Too Far follows a family and their difficult journey to be reunited after being torn apart and sent away as British Home Children. 

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this book. While it stands alone, I would recommend reading both as you’ll want to enjoy the characters a little longer! It was interesting learning about the British Home Children and some of what they experienced and how they were viewed in society. What their parents and siblings felt as they lost contact with each other took me on an emotional journey as a reader. Lots of happy tears at the end of this. 

This series has the perfect amount of details without describing too much. 

This series was the first I’ve read of Carrie Turansky, but it won’t be my last!

At the tender age of eight, Grace McAlister and two of her siblings get put on an orphan ship in 1909 and end up in Canada. The youngest of her family, Grace finds herself separated from her twin siblings and adopted by a wealthy family.

Ten years later, she feels unsettled by the trajectory her parents have in mind for her life. Vague longings for home and the family she remembers plague her life. She doesn’t feel ready to settle down, especially with the questions about her birth family. But her adopted parents refuse to answer her questions. When Grace stumbles upon an old trunk in the attic, memories come flooding back. When two young men find their way to her parlor, Grace makes a move no one expects.

Garth McAlister survived his apprenticeship on a farm under a harsh master. The friendship with fellow Home Orphan Emma Lafferty helped make his years endurable. After serving for Canada in the Great War, Garth can’t wait to return to Canada and reunite with Emma—the girl he’s promised his heart to. But Emma’s letter mysteriously stopped, and no one knows her whereabouts.

In this gripping sequel to No Ocean Too Wide, readers find out what happened to the youngest McAlister sibling and catch up on Laura and Katie’s stories.

What I Loved About this Book

Turansky fills her books with history, mystery, and well-rounded characters readers will fall in love with. The author explores the stigma attached to British Home Children (and adopted children in general) during the time period and brings up themes of where our true identity lies.

No Journey Too Far #2 McAlister Family by Carrie Turansky

No Journey Too Far can be read as a standalone, however, I recommend reading the first book in this series, No Ocean Too Wide, first as it sets the stage for who the characters are and their journey to find their family. This story takes us to 1919 England and Canada and gives more details of what happens to British Home Children of the time. It is heartbreaking to see what these children and their families suffered unnecessarily.

Garth McAlister returns from the Great War with three goals: learn if his beloved Emma Lafferty still loves him, find his sister, Grace McAlister, and reunite with his family. It is not as easy as he would have expected. Along with his best friend, he sets out to unravel the mysteries and uncover the truth. They face many obstacles and even danger in their search; but with God’s help they prevail.

I enjoyed the romance that develops between several of the characters, the hope they have and their faith. The courtroom places us in the audience witnessing the drama as the truth is revealed. I loved the outcome. I especially enjoy the faith elements and how the characters rely on God in all areas of their lives. I appreciate the amount of research Carrie Turansky does and how she weaves these facts within the fictional story-line creating an amazing story.

~I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher; also an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

Sequel to No Ocean Too Wide, No Journey Too Far continues the odyssey of the McAlister children who were taken from their mother in England and sent to Canada. The story of the British Home children is chilling. Orphans or children from poor families often ended up as indentured servants in harsh conditions.
Grace McAlister was adopted, but her new parents wanted to keep her origins secret. The truth could tarnish their reputation and keep her from an advantageous marriage. Her brother Garth made it back to England after WWI, but he’s determined to return to Canada to find Emma, another British Home child who’s in a difficult situation. This story comes with a most satisfying ending for the McAlisters.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Let me just start by saying that I really enjoyed this book! I had no idea that British Home Children were treated with so much contempt, and Carrie Turnasky did a beautiful job with the setting and characters. Main characters Garth and Grace are siblings separated during World War 1 and their journeys to each other made for a great story. Recommended.

Shining a light on the path ahead and helping me see my way.

The search for Grace continues.....It’s been 10 years since she arrived at the Hamilton’s home in 1909 and Grace has all but forgotten her birth family. Will the others ever find her and prove they are still alive? Returning safely from the war, Garth and Rob try to return to their old lives. Will they find those they love still waiting?

The author has done a fabulous job of taking the reader into the world of the British Home Child who is no longer a child. While it appeared the communities were happy to help these children when they were young - using them as indentured servants - now that they were grown up, the stigma of their background could not be hidden. If something negative happened in the area, the BHC were the first to be accused, often charged with things they had never done. Would anyone stand up for them?

This second book in the McAlister Family series was received through WaterBrook Multnomah, Random House and NetGalley. These observations and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

This is book two, and while I'm eager to go back and read book 1, I didn't feel lost or overwhelmed with details. It's a gripping story, with several high hope points. There were several 'other shoes' that drop, keeping the pace of the story high.

I sympathized with Garth and all of the angst he has to deal with, between his two missions of finding and reuniting with his sister and his sweetheart. His strength, determination and quick thinking, and the fact that he knows his limits makes this story shine, especially when it comes to Emma's situation.

I didn't like Grace's 'adoptive' parents, and that plotline was awkward, but I enjoyed watching Grace figure out how to be her own person, learning how to care about and for others, and be a 'regular person' instead of being a princess in a gilded cage.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars

This is the second book in the series, and it is beneficial to read them in order.

Prior to this series, I wasn't familiar with the British Home Children. The books are well-researched and informative. I enjoy being educated along with entertained. Young adults and teens who like historical reads will enjoy this. It was a bit confusing at times because there was no clear indication of time/place changes. Perhaps there will be in the finalized copy.

Faith, grace, and perseverance are key themes in this enjoyable story.

I reviewed this book for the August edition of Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. Per their policy, I cannot post reviews online until after the magazine is published August 1st. I will update my review then.

Let's start with this: I loved this book! No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turnansky is the 2nd book about the McAlister family. I have not read the first book, but this book stands on its own, focusing on Grace and Garth. The McAlisters had been sent from England to Canada because their mother had become ill and could no longer care for them. Eventually the mother recovered, and wanted her children back, not realizing they had been sent to Canada for adoption as British Home Children.

This is their story. A story that there is no journey too far to travel to bring the family together again. This is Christian historical fiction. Historically, the focus is on British Home Children relocated to Canada in the early/mid 1900s where they faced great prejudice. This is also a story of faith and grace and perseverance, as Garth and Grace are determined to reunite the family, despite all obstacles and difficulties.

This is a gem you will not want to miss!

No Journey Too Far, published by Multnomah, will be released on June 8, 2021. I received an advance reader copy from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for my opinion.

1919 Canada and England

In this second and final book of the McAlister Family Series, we pick up ten years after the original journey from England to Canada for Grace McAlister. Grace was fortunate to be adopted upon arrival by a kind man and woman that treated her as their own. Due to the stigma of being a British Home Child, this part of Grace's history was hidden and her parents were focused on making a good match in marriage for Grace.

Garth, Grace's older brother, had just finished his service in WWI when the private investigator hired by his other siblings located Grace. Garth returns to Canada after serving in the war, not only to bring back Grace, but also to bring back the love of his heart Emma. Garth and Emma met in Canada after being "adopted" to labor on a farm. Unlike Garth, Emma doesn't have any remaining family.

It's a lovely tale and I was cheering for them all to have a happy ending. There is tension in part of the novel when one character is wrongfully accused of murder. I particularly enjoyed the courtroom part of the novel.

I loved the historical details picked up in the pages about the British Home Children. Both books in the series are recommended!

What a wonderful book! It is well written and hooks you on the first page. It has everything that makes for a great read; mystery, suspense, romance and faith. The author brings the story to life with her words and you feel like you are there. I highly recommend this book. Thank you WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

No Journey Too Far, sequel to No Ocean Too Wide, had so many of my favorite things in a novel: adventure, faith, mystery, suspense and a sweet love story (this one had two, actually). Add to it that this novel was set in my country and in my region? Now that’s quite something.

I’ve been eagerly waiting to read this novel. I was delighted to meet these characters again, to find out what happened to Garth and Grace.

Turansky’s captivating story of love, loss, redemption and hope had me cheering for Emma and Garth … and for Grace. I might have even been more captivated with Grace’s story somehow. Maybe it was because she had been missing for ten years (from the time she was just seven). Maybe I just liked her character. As much as I’d love to talk about that more, if I did, there would be spoilers. But I will say that there were bittersweet tears when certain reunions (and farewells) took place.

Fans of L.M. Montgomery need to check this series out! Historical/historical romance fans, you won’t want to miss out on this delightful, heart-wrenching series. Read with tissues handy.

This book is the sequel to 'No Ocean Too Wide'. In that book, the three young McAlister siblings were sent to Canada as home children without their sick mother's permission. When the mistake was discovered, older sister Laura travelled to Canada to find them, assisted by the dashing lawyer Andrew. This new book takes place 10 years later. The family still hasn't been reunited with the youngest sibling Grace, but she takes matters into her own hands and tries to find out what happened to her original family. Her brother Garth has served in the Great War and is now desperately trying to find Emma, his true love. She's gone missing from the farm where she was indentured. I can't say a lot more due to spoilers, but there are two love stories, a murder trial, and lots of ups and downs until the story reaches its resolution.

I found myself caring for all of the main characters and wanted to know what happened to them. Their faith remained strong in the most difficult of circumstances. Although things were tough at times, they could see God's hand in their situation and they drew on his strength when things seemed impossible. The author also shines a light in the difficulties that many of the British home children faced in Canada, especially regards their work situations and the prejudice they experienced from many. It's an important story worthy of more attention.

The novel was perhaps a little slow for me at times, but then I read a lot of suspense novels and am used to stories moving along at a good clip. However, I did enjoy it overall. If you like faith-filled historical fiction with heart and hope, there is much to enjoy in this book.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a free Kindle version in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful characters that are easy to fall in love with. A journey with ups and downs that shows God in control of it all. I caught myself holding my breath throughout the story for a positive outcome in many of the pages. This story touched my heart and my emotions all over the place. Truly fantastic story telling that pulls the reader in and holds them until the very last page.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

While I was interested to learn more about British Home Children and their experiences, including the prejudice against them, I just didn't find myself connecting with the characters in this book. They came across as a little flat--almost too good to be true, without enough emotion to make them feel real. I found Emma to be the most compelling character and the plotline involving her to be the most interesting element of the book. I enjoyed seeing how things came together for the McAlister family and the gentle reminders to trust in God. This is a heartwarming story that fans of gentle romance will enjoy.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A family separated, a murder charge, and another family determined to keep secrets. Mystery, faith, danger, and the possibility of love are found in this amazing story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.