Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

I read Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury before the Christmas holidays began.  I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that this is one of the most heart-gripping books I’ve ever read.  My emotions were all over the place with this one.  I’m not exactly sure where to start.  It was that good.

Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury

I suppose the best place to start is the first chapter.  It is as dramatic as the last.  Within the first few pages, Karen has her readers emotionally attached to little Max and his mother, Kiahna.  Readers of Oceans Apart suffer their first emotionally traumatic moment at the end of the first chapter.  That’s where we loose Kiahna and our hearts break for Max.

Don’t worry.  The loss of Max’s mother is no spoiler as this information is clearly exposed on the book jacket.  Although her death is important, the plot is about what happens next.


In the second chapter, we’re introduced to Pilot Conner Evans and his family.  Conner is husband to Michele and father to two girls, Elizabeth and Susan.  They live happily in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Max lives in Hawaii with his mother’s friend, but not for long.  A life-altering long-ago decision between Conner and Kiahna, a long-kept secret, is about to be revealed.

Kiahna’s will and testament concerning her son was clear.  If anything should happen to her, Max’s father must be contacted before her son would be delivered over to the state.  Kiahna requested that Max spend two weeks with his father, giving his father a chance to decide whether or not to keep and raise Max.  However, if Connor should decide to send Max back to Hawaii, he was never to contact Max again.

In all the pages that follow, right up to the point when Conner’s decision is final, the reader is taken into the Connor home to experience the roller-coaster ride of emotions that would wreak havoc over the Evans family during those two weeks.

I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do if I were in Michele’s place.  Before I read this book, I was certain about how I would handle such a situation.  Now, I’m not so sure.  One thing I do know for sure is that after reading this book, readers will clearly see how God works in what seems like impossible circumstances.

Faith, love, happiness, contentment, suspicion, hurt, devastation, anger, and resentment are some of the emotions that grip Connor and Michele throughout the story.  Will Connor’s and Michele’s faith be deep enough to nurture a spirit of forgiveness strong enough to save their marriage?  If they manage to save their family unit, will Connor and Michele find a place in their hearts for Max?

Oh how I loved that little boy . . . and oh how my heart broke over how the consequences of poor decisions affected Max and the Evans family.

 To find out how the story plays out, get your copy of Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury here. 

This item is available here.