Customer Reviews

The Ocean Between Us

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's always amazing to me that readers can have such different reactions to books. I confess, I'm mystified by those readers who didn't like this book, because I loved it. The depiction of Navy life was incredibly realistic and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about what it's like to serve on a carrier and/or land a plane on a carrier. I also loved the Pacific Northwest setting, which Ms. Wiggs brought alive so beautifully. But what I enjoyed most about this book were the characters. For me, it's ALWAYS about the characters, and Steve, Grace, Brian, Emma, Katie, Josh, and Lauren crept into my heart and stayed there till the very end, with me rooting for them all the way. This book is beautifully written and a real page-turner. Bravo, Ms. Wiggs! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

For two decades Grace Bennett has been the perfect navy wife to her beloved Steve while traveling the globe when her husband gets restationed and raising their three delightful children. So why is the devoted family matriarch feeling worthless and dissatisfied? Perhaps it is simply that her youngest is in ninth grade and like her older siblings needs mom less, but Grace thinks it goes deeper as she believes it is her identity that she lost.

Steve is bewildered by Grace's sudden change of heart towards him, as he believes that his career proves how much he cares for his family. Now deployed, he knows his marriage is in jeopardy especially since Grace has established a communication black out. He refuses to accept that he lost her without going down fighting as he loves his wife and children, but panics that Grace will not be there when he redeploys. When Stephen's ship is in troubled waters, Grace may not have a choice whether to remain a sailor's spouse with the overseas danger to her husband and the rest of the sailors on board.

THE OCEAN BETWEEN US excitingly plays out on two levels. There is the conflict between Grace and Stephen that serves as a reminder of how much family members sacrifice so that their loved ones can serve in a military that constantly ships out to hot spots (whom else but the military and their family have really sacrificed anything for the Global War on Terrorism?). The second theme is an action subplot that shows how dangerous the world is. Both the relationship drama and the naval suspense thriller combine to make a terrific thought provoking tale.

Harriet Klausner

I just spent an hour writing a great review only to lose it!! So this will be short and sweet! It was a wonderful story. I loved it and want to hear from these charming and very real people again in a second or maybe third book Ms Wiggs!!!!

My husband was in the military for the first ten yrs of our marriage and I was quickly taken back to that period where I experienced many of the things Grace went through. She captures the heart and minds of the military people with excellence and detail. I especially appreciated her recognition of the sacrifice and endurance of our amazing military personnel and their loved ones at the end of the book. It's a good story for corporate families who face moves and any family who faces scruitiny and sacrifice for their jobs. Keep writing contemporary novels Ms Wiggs! You're great at it!

I did like this book enough to finish reading it. I liked the basic premise and message of the book... I just felt like some of the writing was a bit contrived. The characters are a little too perfect to be believable. It's a quick and pretty mindless summer beach read, but there's nothing too memorable about this book to me.

I have read all of Ms. Wiggs books. I think that this is one of her worse ones. I finished the book and felt like the ending was rushed and just too happy, almost unbelievable. The beginning of the book really draws you in but after that the events are predictable and a little boring. There are too many characters to really get to feel like you know any of them very well. I didn't feel any chemistry between the main characters. It was a great idea for a story but lacking something in the end. Save your money and borrow this one from the libaray instead. It wasn't a horrible read but after I finished it I felt like it was okay. Nothing to get excited over.

When I read this book, my husband was in the Navy and on a 6 month deployment. While I found the book slow throughout, the author does an excellent job of depicting military life, and the sacrifices that every man and woman in uniform, and their families make on a daily basis. Freedom really is not free.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a heart-warming story of a career Navy man, his family, and the trials of their lives. Steve is the main character, shares what it feels like to be serving his country, sometimes at the expense of his family. Steve's wife, Grace, is in the middle of a full blown mid-life crisis, and can be a bit difficult to take at times, but Susan Wiggs brings it all together as it should be.

Very enjoyable read!

I have read a few of Susan Wiggs novels and I found them enjoyable reads. But this one blew me away, without a doubt, this is her best!!
Maybe because I am at that age and facing those same crossroads in life...but it touched my heart and gave me faith in what we all search for... a true love (of one or a family). It also made me realize how much the miltary men as well as their families sacrafice for our country.
There is so much more...but I suggest you purchase a copy...and kick back...it was THAT good..I read it in one day...and you will want to as well!!!

This is the best depiction of what is like to be a Navy Wife as I have read. Obviously, this family had a lot more trauma than the average Navy family...or maybe I should say...different trauma. As a 20 year Navy Wife and seeing my daughter spend 20 years as a Navy Wife....there was plenty of trauma..mine came in the form of natural disasters instead of personal disasters. Wiggs painted perfectly what it is like to deal with the realities of trying to have a normal family life and marriage while moving every 2 to 4 years and having your husband gone for long periods of time but still expecting to be head of the household. This husband is typical. It takes a special woman to be a "GOOD NAVY WIFE".... To live with the idea that "if the Navy wanted us to have a wife..we would have been issued one in our sea bag" is not easy. "If you sign up for it...you should be willing to live with it".. but then..you don't really know what you signed up for. Admiral Zumwalt did a lot to make the Navy spouse feel more appreciated and respected and aided. This woman was a typical "GOOD NAVY WIFE" and Naval Officer's Wife. She was an asset to her husband's career...a necessity if he wants to continue to be promoted. She made a career of making a happy home "where ever the Navy sends you"...helping the kids adjust to another move and think of it as an adventure. Doing all the social things to enhance her husbands career...putting up with superior officers wives that wear their husbands rank. To be a "GOOD NAVY WIFE"..this is what you do. If you want a career of your own....well..you can't be a "GOOD NAVY WIFE" The trouble comes when the husband is unwilling to let go of the status quo and recognize it is time to consider what is best or the family instead of just what is best for the career. I feel this was shown beautifully in this book. I would like to read more stories as well written on the subject...and still entertain me with a page turning ride. Thanks Susan. I do realize that corporate wives face many of the same issues but they don't normally have to do the moving and long separations...having your husband in on the beginning of the pregnancies but rarely the entire pregnancy. And...civilian jobs pay a lot more than military jobs!

This was a pretty good read, and I enjoyed it. However, I found it hard to believe that someone could survive overnight, with no flotation device except a shirt with air blown into it, in cold ocean waters with a badly burned arm.