2022 Book Review #10: Two If By Sea

 

This was an interesting novel to read.  It was different.  She's a good author and I've read a couple of her other novels and really enjoyed them.

STORY SUMMARY

Frank Mercy, an ex-cop,  and his pregnant wife Natalie, a doctor,  and her entire family are celebrating Christmas Eve in Brisbane, Australia when a tsunami hits. Everyone except Frank and Natalie's brother Brian dies in the tsunami.  (Brian's wife and 2 children). 

Frank pulls a little boy out from a submerged van, saving the child's life with only seconds to spare.  Frank sees the van slip under the water and cannot rescue the 2nd little boy or the woman in the van. 

Frank, originally from a family farm in Wisconsin, decided to break the law and bring the boy back home with him.  The boy's name is Ian and Frank soon learns that Ian has an extraordinary gift. Frank's only wish as he grieves the loss of his wife and unborn baby, are to protect Ian who is deeply frightened and hasn't uttered a word since being rescued. 

Frank struggles to begin again with out the woman he loved.  He begins to train horses like his father (now deceased) and grandfather did.  Frank's mom, Hope, still runs the farm and takes care of his grandfather. 

Soon Frank meets Claudia who is a psychiatrist and also a champion equestrian....she is someone Frank can share his life with....and share his fears about Ian with.  Ian is wanted by some bad people.   One thing Frank remembers when he rescued Ian was the older boy saying "take him, he's important". 

Frank and Claudia know that it will be impossible to keep Ian's gift a secret forever.  Some strange coincidences have already happened and have put Frank's police instincts on high alert.   Strangers threaten the quiet life at the family farm. 

er The fight to keep Ian safe from a sinister group that wants him back takes place from Brisbane to the middle of America to a quaint English village. As Frank and Claudia hope for a new love, it soon becomes evident that their priority must be protecting Ian, no matter what the cost. 

MY THOUGHTS

This book shows the best...and worst.....of people. It is about heros and magic in ordinary life. 

The book centers around Frank, his new "adopted" son Ian and Ian's brother Colin. Claudia enters the picture fairly early in the novel and the themes of love and loss are evident throughout the story.  There are many characters in the story and all of them are affected by Ian in some way.  Ian is able to get people to do what he wants them to do but he always tells them to be happy.  To be kind.  To be good. 

 

Some of this was rather far-fetched but it was a good read.  I enjoyed finding out what was going to happen to Frank and Claudia...and to the boys. 

I liked that the author made a point of the relationships between families and between people and horses. Other themes in the book center around parenthood and the relationship we have with children; and a sense of "home". 

and this sums up the book well: "Can there ever be a time when doing something that is wrong in the eyes of the world be the only right choice?"

I liked that Frank learned to love again and to have faith again. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8.