Books for Christian Girls: "Across the Blue" by Carrie Turansky

About this book:

“Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year.

When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?”

Series: As of now, no.

Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned and quoted; Many Prayers, Blessings over food, & Thanking God; Church going; Visiting a cathedral & stain glasses of those in the Bible; Many talks about God & having a faith; Majority of ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Bella has a sweet yearning to know the Lord better; Many mentions of God; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, cathedrals, church going, services, hymns, sermons, & ministers; Mentions of faiths; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of Godspeed; A few mentions of martyrs; A mention of a miracle; A mention of Christmas & Easter.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’ and two ‘blast’s; A tiny bit of eye rolling; Plane crashes & watching ones happen (up to semi-detailed); Injuries, Blood, & a Fire (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a death (or murder), a fall (or a push) off a cliff, how it happened, & the body (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, & stitches (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of wars, possible future wars, & enemies; Mentions of murders (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an almost plane crash (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of wondering if a death was a suicide; A few mentions of other (unnatural) deaths; A few mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of food poisoning; A couple mentions of hunting & shooting; A mention of a fire; A mention of a jail; A mention of cigarettes.

Sexual Content- three hand/finger kisses, three cheek kisses, two forehead kisses, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of James being an illegitimate son & not knowing who his father is (he and Bella try to find out); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & waiting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of flirting & teasing; Mentions of reputations & chaperones; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of greeting kisses; A couple mentions of a woman not agreeing to be a man’s mistress; A couple mentions of a girl (not) throwing herself at a man; A mention of men hooting at a couple showing affection; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;

*Note: A couple mentions of Bella’s figure (not-detailed); A mention of a low-cut neckline of a dress.

-Isabella “Bella” Grayson, age 20

-James Drake, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1909 {Epilogue in 1911}
352 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

{Add ½ star for those interested in aviation or journalism.}

Let’s all just take a deep sigh, shall we?
*aaaaahhhhhh*

Honestly, y’all, I’m at a loss for words right now. ~~Which is saying a lot because y’all how much I like to fangirl over books.~~

“Across the Blue” is one of my top anticipated reads for 2018 and I’d like to say it completely met my expectations.

After I finish any book by this talented author, I always have to wonder, “How is Miss Carrie Turansky so good?” which is always followed by “How are her books so wonderfully clean?!” with about fifty hearts in my eyes as I read.

Really, though, on that clean factor. Sooooo very clean, it’s so refreshing and lovely. Even while our main hero’s parents weren’t married when he was born, the author keeps the entire story so clean and gives nothing about those details or suggestions. (A big thank you for that!)

Because I read this book so quick, at first I did think that out main couple’s feelings for each other came a bit quick, but it actually was paced out well in according to the rest of the novel. I would like to say that I felt a bit more angst in this story than the author’s previous historical books, so I was a bit on edge at times. ;)

I adored both James and Bella and found them to be so sweet for each other. I loved that they each had their own passions, but that they each had to work separately on something within their own self.

Which brings me to the faith content! Oh, that the faith content! AH! CarrieTuransky’s books always have those amazing faith moments and I always love them. There one was no different. I adored all the faith parts oh-so much.

I’m going to sign off this review with a note to my fellow unmarried females: Girls, settle for nothing less than a Carrie Turansky hero. ;)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!