Cross the Ocean
1871 . . . The very proud Duke of Wexford was about to have his orderly world blown apart. At the age of nineteen Blake Sanders had wed a beautiful, dutiful wife, and she had borne him three children. But now as mid-life approached, the Duchess had the unheard of temerity to leave him! Too mortified by her behavior to mix in ton company, Blake sought companionship with his best friend and neighbor, Anthony Burroughs and his wife Elizabeth. But Blake had forgotten the Burroughs were entertaining a houseguest, Elizabeth’s distant cousin, a spinsterish ‘Amazon from America’.
Gertrude Finch, a champion for women’s rights, had long ago decided most men were pretty useless other than Uncle Fred who’d raised her on his horse ranch near Chicago. While traveling with other Suffragists, Gert lectured women on the perils of passion, and the value of independence, but thought of neither when Blake kissed her. While opposite in nearly every way, other than an attraction neither could deny, their one night of passion would change her world, and send Gert scurrying her way back home across the ocean.
When Blake discovered his heir had stowed away on Gertrude’s ship, he sets out on his own adventure to America, to bring the boy home and to see her once again. Traversing America’s vast wilderness, Blake discovered that Gertrude had changed his life. Whether riding the rails or meeting common folk, Blake saw a whole new way of living, but most of all, he realized something about love. He found he was not immune, and his heart could love, and love deeply.
Published: March 14, 2014
Pages: 375
ISBN: 9781586087715
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Rachel S.
Cross the Ocean beginnings with getting to know the pompous Duke of Wexford, Blake Sanders, his wife had just left him but to be fair he was having an affair for some years before hand. This was not the done thing for a wife to leave their husband and family and he knew there would be talk.
His best friend Anthony Burroughs and his wife Elizabeth had a houseguest for a while, Gertrude Finch a single lady from America. The moment Blake laid eyes on here there was something about her. He did not know, or refused to acknowledge what that something was. He laid a kiss on her lips and received a bloody nose for the pleasure.
With his head in a tiz and Gertrude not accepting his attention he is invited to sleep in another women’s bed but being a little drunk on whiskey ends up in Gert’s bed and making love to her. She then states she is leaving. Blake does propose but she refuses and goes back to America with a little stowaway who is Blake’s son William.
The story goes on and we find Blake traveling to America and having an adventure while on his quest to find Gert and William. Blake seems to ease with his pompous ways and turns into a likeable man. He loves Gert but saying those little words is difficult for him.
There is more to this story but I will let you read it to find out but I will say I really enjoyed this. It was well written and the story flowed well.
Merged review:
Historical Romance novels are not something I would particularly pick out from a range of genres usually but something in the synopsis grabbed my attention.
Cross the Ocean beginnings with getting to know the pompous Duke of Wexford, Blake Sanders, his wife had just left him but to be fair he was having an affair for some years before hand. This was not the done thing for a wife to leave their husband and family and he knew there would be talk.
His best friend Anthony Burroughs and his wife Elizabeth had a houseguest for a while, Gertrude Finch a single lady from America. The moment Blake laid eyes on here there was something about her. He did not know, or refused to acknowledge what that something was. He laid a kiss on her lips and received a bloody nose for the pleasure.
With his head in a tiz and Gertrude not accepting his attention he is invited to sleep in another women’s bed but being a little drunk on whiskey ends up in Gert’s bed and making love to her. She then states she is leaving. Blake does propose but she refuses and goes back to America with a little stowaway who is Blake’s son William.
The story goes on and we find Blake traveling to America and having an adventure while on his quest to find Gert and William. Blake seems to ease with his pompous ways and turns into a likeable man. He loves Gert but saying those little words is difficult for him.
There is more to this story but I will let you read it to find out but I will say I really enjoyed this. It was well written and the story flowed well.