Wow! What an amazing book! The title is what captured my attention right away. They crying sands is an appropriate name as later revealed. It starts off with an almost devastating disaster. There are secrets kept by many of the characters that threaten their relationships. The setting in Oregon represents a tough but satisfactory existence.

Mary - she's strong physically and mentally. She's a hard worker and often has too much on her plate. John- hm. I liked him, then I didn't, and then he became a better man by the end. I admire him for trying to be the provider for his family, but sometimes the cost to his family was too much. Jewell is a jewel! She's a faithful friend, always showing up at just the right time. I hope she's in the next book!

There are a lot of questions raised that are unanswered, but the cliffhanger promises that more will be revealed.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The subject matter of this book is very interesting. I was especially intrigued by the fact that it was based on a true story. This is the first of a series and there are a lot of questions left unanswered. Which was quite frustrating as a reader, as they are teased quite a few times throughout the story. Also, a lot of the story is included on the back cover synopsis, which I felt gave a way a lot of what is to come. I had trouble connecting with the main character and we aren't really given time to get to know her husband who is adamant against her working an "adventurous job", but suddenly changes his mind and the entire story shifts. I really struggled with this. I wanted to love it, I love frontier stories and being based on a true story was a bonus for me. But this was not my favourite. Sorry.

Book Review: Across the Crying Sands
A promising premise with too many unanswered questions and plotlines

By Mandy Crow

Blame it on my Missouri roots and my deep love of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but every once in a while I find myself wanting a historical novel set on the frontier. So, when I saw Jane Kirkpatrick’s book Across the Crying Sands, the first in her upcoming “The Women of Cannon Beach” series, I knew I had to get my hands on an early copy so I could review it before its May 20 release date.

Across the Crying Sands is set in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s and focuses on Mary Edwards Gerritse and her husband, John. The book opens as the young couple is planning their wedding and follows them through early marriage and the travails of having and raising children as well as carving out a life for themselves. Mary, creative and energetic, nurtures a pioneering spirit, seeing her marriage as an avenue to adventure, but feeling stifled in her role as a mother and wife, often spending weeks and months alone trying to make a go of it on their homestead claim as John works as a mail carrier, helps build a road to bring people to Cannon Beach and works as a sailor.

There’s also an element of mystery that’s introduced early on concerning Mary’s nervous and slightly OCD mother, Amanda. Amanda off-handedly refers to Mary as “Minnie,” leading to questions about Mary’s parentage and true family of origin. At one point, Mary discovers a photo of a woman and some children, but Amanda snatches it away and it’s only mentioned maybe once or twice in the novel after that.

And, for me at least, that’s the major issue with Across the Crying Sands. I understand that it is the first in a series and as such, designed to introduce plotlines that won’t be fully fleshed out until later books—but there are too many threads left dangling in this first novel. The mystery of Mary’s family of origin and Amanda’s desire to keep it hidden are a big part of the first part of the novel, then basically forgotten. Mary’s friendship with a native woman, Jewell, is a big component of the novel, then Jewel disappears (literally, it’s a plot point) and that’s only mentioned off-handedly when Mary can’t find her the two times she tries to look for her. John, Mary’s husband, who has been utterly against Mary pursuing adventurous jobs outside of their home, has a sudden change of heart after a traumatic event—but that change of heart happens “off-camera” and it’s a bit unfulfilling for readers, at least this one.

I think Jane Kirkpatrick’s series has promise and could be an interesting diversion in future days, but Across the Crying Sands introduces too many plot points and doesn’t deliver on enough of them for me to get in a hurry to seek out the remaining books when they release. While I enjoyed the pioneer setting and frontier tone, the characters felt a little two-dimensional, especially Mary’s mother and father, and in some ways, her husband, John. If you enjoy pioneer novels, definitely give it a try, but be aware it may leave you frustrated and a smidge unfulfilled.

The Bookery Rating: 📙📙
Across the Crying Sands has a lot of promise and worth the read if you enjoy historical, Christian fiction—but introduces too many plotlines that won’t be fully completed until future books in the series, which could leave readers feeling unfulfilled and confused.

This is a cover that caught my attention right away. Why? Because that's my beach! That's my beautiful Cannon Beach that I grew up visiting. So many years walking in that exact spot with those rocks. Of COURSE I'm going to read this new book by the fabulous Jane Kirkpatrick!

This book goes back to a time when the coast was still being settled. When the roads were only just being created to tie the coastal cities together. When tourism at the beach was still rapidly brighter gleam in investors' eyes. oh I enjoyed reading the names of the towns I know so well. Seaside. Tillamook. Cannon Beach.

And even though those cities are gaining attention as tourist destinations, a good chunk of this book explores the fact that much of the Oregon Territory is still unsettled and available for homesteaders if they can last.

the book begins with Mary the day before her wedding. So excited to start her new life with her beloved husband. And the book ends after several of her children have been born so you get to see a good span of years in her life. She's got major ups and downs as the reality of her marriage and what her husband has promised vs delivered arises. And also the book explores the frustration Mary feels when she's left behind with the children to "do all the work" of settling a homestead while her husband gets to leave it behind as he earns his way. She comes to the realization that she's not cut out to be left behind and fill a traditional role as wife and mother. She longs for adventure.

the book addresses Mary leaving her children behind with her mother for weeks/months as she rides a pack horse to deliver mail. As she works as a cook for the construction crew.

The plot also adds in the mystery behind who Mary actually is as we see her mother's point of view as she is hiding Mary from the truth of her childhood. Who is the man who keeps trying to find Mary? What is in the notes that Mary's mother keeps burning without reading?

The third POV is from Mary's husband as he tries to reconcile his love of Mary, his role as a husband, his perceived role of her as a wife and Mary's own personality. The things he loves most about her are the things that are also causing her to drive him crazy.

So I personally didn't really like Mary. I just couldn't relate to her burning desire for fulfillment outside of her life as wife/mother in regards to being willing to LEAVE THEM behind with her mother for weeks and months on end to pursue her need for adventure. I mean this was the partially tamed Oregon territory! It just turned me off of the story and I put the book down several times.

There is faith woven into the story as usual for the author's books.

4 Stars. Very historically sound. But I kept being able to put it down.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

5 stars, Good Friends and Family Secrets

ACROSS THE CRYING SANDS (WOMEN OF CANNON BEACH SERIES, BOOK ONE)
by Jane Kirkpatrick

This is the story of Mary and John, a young couple in love, who are engaged to be married. They will be homesteading on the rugged coast in the late 1800s, on the Oregon near Astoria.

They are good friends with Herbert (Herbie) who is a younger son from England, who is trying to make his own fortune.

Mary's best friend is Jewell, who is a Clatsop-Nehalem Indian who lives with her beloved grandfather, near Mary.

As I read this book, I felt like every five pages, I was marking qq (quotable quotes) The way with words of this author is quite fascinating. Quotable Quotes: ...stomach trolls and bone sprites...and thought thieves...; ...vowing to be there, no matter how...; ...Holy Jumblies...; ...taking care of a dog is like preparing your heart for loss, same with a horse...; ...sleeper wave...; ...(a baby being born) was more monumental than delivering a stove...

Every book of Jane Kirkpatrick's that I've read, I've liked. I love most of them. She has a unique way of blending fact and fiction together into a compelling story. Her stories all have a strong female protagonist, drawing you into their story, so you wish you could be just like them. Her stories are standalones.

Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of #AcrosstheCryingSands from #JaneKirkpatrick #NetGalley #Revell I was not obligated to post a review.

#pacificnorthwest #Indians #standalone #bingedbook #strongfemaleprotagonist #ClatsopNehalemIndians #AstoriaOregon #PortlandOregon #Oregon #lighthouses #mystery #tsunami #inspirationalfiction #inspyfiction #ChristianFiction #BakerPublishing #packhorsemailcarrier #WomenofCannonBeachSeries #England #homesteading #lossofchild #basedonatruestory

This is a unique look at the history of Canon Brach in Oregon. I look forward to going again to see the cannons found since the last time I was there. Read on….
The main character is based on the real life of an extremely strong woman. I admit I was cringing at all the red flags in her marriage, but things seemed to settle down and work out.
There is a lot of history in this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

As always I love this author's stories. She never disappoints.
I connected with Mary right away. The things she wanted and didn't get. I understood that pain very well. I also loved her resilience and willingness to stay by John no matter what. I appreciated the need for each other and I loved how they worked as a team.
I've been to some of the places described in this story. It was great to revisit them again only in the comfort of my home lol.
This is an interesting story and one that you won't want to put down.
I'm giving this book a solid 5 stars for the adventure that Kirkpatrick created for me. I highly recommend
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine