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MY REVIEW:
From the back cover copy and what I’d heard about this novel before I read the first page, I knew the main character, Jenny Lucas, was facing the end of her life. A life that would be cut short by cancer. I prepared myself for that in the way that I did when I read Marley and Me. It wasn’t the ending that mattered so much, but the celebration of life on the pages.
What I didn’t know was that Jenny’s cancer was melanoma—the cancer that claimed my own mom ten years ago. And although my mom wasn’t leaving a young child behind, it was impossible to read Crossing Oceans without reflecting on the mother/child relationship and the fears we all face—what will happen to the ones who are left behind when we die? What legacy will remain?
Gina’s writing is graceful, poignant, and emotional, but sprinkled with enough light-hearted moments to keep it from being melodramatic. Yes, you will cry, but not for the reasons you might think. Of course, I’m not going to tell what happens because this story of love and healing and sacrifice is one you should savor for yourself. I’d suggest you pick up a copy today. Lovely debut.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010’s issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Crossing Oceans, go HERE.
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