beachbookbabe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emilybriano's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the blend of paranormal, historical fiction and mystery. The audiobook narrator did a great job with all the different accents and characters, too.
pnelson384's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author does a wonderful job of developing the story across time and through the different characters that are all linked together. I found the main characters believable and likeable, and the story drew me in immediately.
kcornett22's review against another edition
3.0
Funny story warning: I am in four book clubs. Because of this, I sometimes read one book thinking it was for a specific book club when in reality, it isn't and I realize four hours before book club realizing I read the wrong club that I have that evening.
That ladies and gentleman is what happened in this situation. All of that said, I enjoyed this book more than the book I was supposed to have read (Of Mice and Men).
It did not end the way I thought it was going to and I was almost disappointed in that. I feel like the author missed the boat (pun intended) that was staring right at her.
That ladies and gentleman is what happened in this situation. All of that said, I enjoyed this book more than the book I was supposed to have read (Of Mice and Men).
It did not end the way I thought it was going to and I was almost disappointed in that. I feel like the author missed the boat (pun intended) that was staring right at her.
thisbookishcat's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
I'm going to be honest, I went in with basically no expectations, then it started to get really good so I had high expectations, but by the end I was a bit let down. It's not that the story is bad by any means, but I find it a little nauseating that .
As for the rest, it was fine, even intriguing at times.
It's a fairly quick read so if you're looking for something a little different, this might be for you.
Spoiler
the husband, Keith, is basically pressuring Brette for a baby thorughout the whole book, and although he is supportive of her abilities, it feels very much like a "get over it and give me children" situationAs for the rest, it was fine, even intriguing at times.
It's a fairly quick read so if you're looking for something a little different, this might be for you.
thelongroadtosanity's review against another edition
5.0
I was a bit hesitant when I read the description, but once I started to read I instantly fell in love with this! I typically don't enjoy reading books with multiple timelines as sometimes they can be too hard to follow, but everything blended together seamlessly and I didn't have to backtrack once! Loved it! Can't wait to share it with my sister!
bigskybooks's review against another edition
4.0
—Book Review—
Title: A Bridge Across the Ocean
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley
@berkleypub
Genre: Historical Fiction
I see a lot readers time and time again say they feel bored with Historical Fiction; especially WWII books. Well, if you haven’t read this backlist from 2017, A Bridge Across the Ocean, by the fantastic Susan Meissner you simply must! She weaves a ghost tale amoungst the HF. Yes, ghosts. How’s that for interesting and different!
1946 - WWII may be over but the trauma is still fresh for Annaliese, a German ballerina trying to escape her past. By her side is friend, Simone, the wronged daughter of a French Resistance Spy. These ladies are meeting up with hundreds of other European war brides aboard the Queen Mary to be reunited with their husbands in America.
Present Day - Brett visits the haunted Queen Mary at the request of a friend. Her presence is requested because Brett has a family gift of connecting with spirits. This sets her on a course to solve a 70 year old mystery.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This initially took a bit to hold my attention and I much preferred the historic timeline. That is until it got further along into the mystery. All in all in ended up being a solid read for me. Some books you have to be patient, ya know.
Title: A Bridge Across the Ocean
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley
@berkleypub
Genre: Historical Fiction
I see a lot readers time and time again say they feel bored with Historical Fiction; especially WWII books. Well, if you haven’t read this backlist from 2017, A Bridge Across the Ocean, by the fantastic Susan Meissner you simply must! She weaves a ghost tale amoungst the HF. Yes, ghosts. How’s that for interesting and different!
1946 - WWII may be over but the trauma is still fresh for Annaliese, a German ballerina trying to escape her past. By her side is friend, Simone, the wronged daughter of a French Resistance Spy. These ladies are meeting up with hundreds of other European war brides aboard the Queen Mary to be reunited with their husbands in America.
Present Day - Brett visits the haunted Queen Mary at the request of a friend. Her presence is requested because Brett has a family gift of connecting with spirits. This sets her on a course to solve a 70 year old mystery.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This initially took a bit to hold my attention and I much preferred the historic timeline. That is until it got further along into the mystery. All in all in ended up being a solid read for me. Some books you have to be patient, ya know.
emilydehaven's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jilliebeen2003's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
When I read the description of this book, I was instantly excited to read it: I love books that can go back and forth in time and weave two stories together into one. To me, this book was reminiscent of The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (one of my all-time favorites!): a huge secret kept by a woman (or women), dating back to WW2, and someone in the present-day bringing the truth to light. And this book did it well. However, this book has an element of the supernatural woven in, as the present-day character, Brette, is able to see and hear ghosts, and a particular ghost takes her on a journey to find out what happened to a woman traveling on the Queen Mary to the United States after WW2.
Ghost stories don't bother me at all, and I really enjoyed where this one was going...until the very end when I found out who/what the ghost figure leading Brette on her journey really was. I won't give any spoilers here, in case anyone wants to read the book. I still loved the book and adored the story, but this one thing thrown in just threw me off and cost this book a star in my opinion. I've read plenty of reviews in which readers really thought it was a clever plot point, but I just thought it was cheesy. I feel like Brette could have been led on her journey in a number of other ways, which would have made me not snort with laughter and roll my eyes at that point in the book. (I'm pretty sure that wasn't the reaction the author was going for).
BUT: don't let that weird quirk put you off from reading this book, especially if you're a fan of Kate Morton-esque books and stories about women in WW2. If you like that type of book, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy this. Just be ready to roll your eyes in the last couple of chapters.
When I read the description of this book, I was instantly excited to read it: I love books that can go back and forth in time and weave two stories together into one. To me, this book was reminiscent of The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (one of my all-time favorites!): a huge secret kept by a woman (or women), dating back to WW2, and someone in the present-day bringing the truth to light. And this book did it well. However, this book has an element of the supernatural woven in, as the present-day character, Brette, is able to see and hear ghosts, and a particular ghost takes her on a journey to find out what happened to a woman traveling on the Queen Mary to the United States after WW2.
Ghost stories don't bother me at all, and I really enjoyed where this one was going...until the very end when I found out who/what the ghost figure leading Brette on her journey really was. I won't give any spoilers here, in case anyone wants to read the book. I still loved the book and adored the story, but this one thing thrown in just threw me off and cost this book a star in my opinion. I've read plenty of reviews in which readers really thought it was a clever plot point, but I just thought it was cheesy. I feel like Brette could have been led on her journey in a number of other ways, which would have made me not snort with laughter and roll my eyes at that point in the book. (I'm pretty sure that wasn't the reaction the author was going for).
BUT: don't let that weird quirk put you off from reading this book, especially if you're a fan of Kate Morton-esque books and stories about women in WW2. If you like that type of book, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy this. Just be ready to roll your eyes in the last couple of chapters.