Refurbished favorites for less
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
OR
$4.99

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Ocean Between Us (A Southern Heroes Novel Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 1,696 ratings

#90 BESTSELLER IN THE ENTIRE STORE!

From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Michelle Heard comes a new standalone, full-length romantic suspense novel.

Dying to experience life, I cross an ocean to get away from my fears. I find my safe haven in the form of Detective Aiden Holden.

He shows me what love is, but then our lives collide. Our little world shatters, and I'm caught in the crossfire.

I'm forced to return home, to let go of the only person who has made me feel like I could be more.

How do you return to a cage once you've tasted freedom?

My only hope is that Aiden will cross an ocean for me.

STANDALONE: Romance Suspense full-length novel.
WARNING: 18+ only. Please read responsibly. THIS NOVEL CONTAINS TRIGGERING CONTENT.

Reading Order of Southern Heroes Series:

The Ocean Between Us
The Girl In The Closet
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
All The Wasted Time
We Were Lost

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 5 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This was one of my highly most anticipated books for September, be it the cover, the author, the synopsis I was wanting to read this in a heartbeat. And in a heartbeat I did. I devoured this, sleep is only for the dead, I read this in record time, couldn't put it down. didn't want to put it down. Just when I thought this was going to be a sugary sweet read a total game changer is thrown into the storyline and like the sick puppy I am from that point onwards life outside this book ceased to exist." ~Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.

"TOBU is a highly emotional read, it's intense, it's raw and it's beautiful but most of all it's real and it will give you all the feels." ~
The Book Whisperer.

"The Ocean Between Us is simultaneously devastatingly heartbreaking and unbelievably healing. All while being filled with a deeply emotional romance and being entirely unique." ~
Britt Red Hatter Book Blog.

"Deeply emotional, rife with pain, infused with a resilience of the human spirit made for a wildly sweet and romantic story with so much heat it seared the pages of my kindle." ~
Erika, PBookHavenBookBlog.

"Aiden. The most heroically emotional Male I have read." ~
Jenny, Amazon Reviewer.

"A confronting, raw, heartbreaking, highly emotional and powerful read that I simply didn't want to end. A blend of evil, innocence, trust, hope, love with all the feels that took my breath away." ~
Gayle, Amazon Reviewer.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HF3CB6P
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MA Heard
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ A Southern Heroes Novel
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,696 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Michelle Heard
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Michelle Heard is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon #3 Bestselling romance author. She writes emotional, heart-shattering stories with a whole lot of angst and romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book shows the strength of the characters who will burn down the world for each other.

Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son, Sheldon, who's also her right-hand man when it comes to all things publishing, and her daughter-in-law, Tayla, who's her best friend.

Reading Order on AMAZON

MAFIA EMPIRE:

The Hermit

The High Priestess

Death

The Empress

The Devil

THE KINGS OF MAFIA SERIES:

Tempted By The Devil

Craving Danger

Hunted By A Shadow

Drawn To Darkness

God Of Vengeance

ST. MONARCH'S MAFIA WORLD:

THE SAINTS SERIES:

Merciless Saints

Cruel Saints

Ruthless Saints

Tears of Betrayal

Tears of Salvation

THE SINNERS SERIES:

Taken By A Sinner

Owned By A Sinner

Stolen By A Sinner

Chosen By A Sinner

Captured By A Sinner

THE CORRUPTED ROYALS SERIES:

Destroy Me

Control Me

Brutalize Me

Restrain Me

Possess Me

New Adult / Contemporary Romance

ENEMIES TO LOVERS SERIES:

***College & New Adult Romance***

Heartless

Reckless

Careless

Ruthless

Shameless

TRINITY ACADEMY SERIES:

***College Romance***

Falcon

Mason

Lake

Julian

The Epilogue

THE HEIRS:

***College & New Adult Romance***

Coldhearted Heir

Arrogant Heir

Defiant Heir

Loyal Heir

Callous Heir

Sinful Heir

Tempted Heir

Forbidden Heir

SOUTHERN HEROES SERIES:

***Suspense Romance***

The Ocean Between Us

The Girl In The Closet

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

All The Wasted Time

We Were Lost

OTHER STANDALONE NOVELS:

Lifeline - Suspense FBI Romance

Not My Hero - Dark YA Romance

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,696 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers describe this book as a captivating and suspenseful love story that touches hearts and deals with mental and emotional abuse. The characters are well-developed, with one customer highlighting the chemistry between Aiden and Emma, while the writing quality receives mixed reviews. Customers appreciate the book's dark tone and its portrayal of resilience, with one review noting how it infuses the narrative with the strength of the human spirit. While customers find it an unputdownable read, some mention it takes time to get into the story.

28 customers mention "Story quality"24 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the captivating plot of this beautiful love story, describing it as soul achingly beautiful and suspenseful, with one customer particularly appreciating the twists and turns.

"...They were hot, they were sweet, and they were both healing each other. "..." Read more

"...The Ocean Between Us is a beautiful love story but not in a traditional, perfectly wrapped cookie cutter way. It’s not for the faint of heart...." Read more

"The Ocean Between Us is an intense, gritty, heartbreaking, suspenseful yet sweet read...." Read more

"...She needed to suffer for how hateful she was. Great story and now on to the next in this series. This is a must read" Read more

24 customers mention "Emotional content"21 positive3 negative

Customers find the book emotionally intense and heartbreaking, with one customer noting how it deals with themes of mental and emotional abuse.

"...It is powerfully emotional, riveting and raw, heartbreaking, thought provoking, and extremely well written...." Read more

"The Ocean Between Us is an intense, gritty, heartbreaking, suspenseful yet sweet read...." Read more

"Loved this book very much!! It was romantic, emotional and intense. It was a real page turner...." Read more

"...plot and innovative multidimensional characters that sucks you in the story and keep you on tenterhooks ...." Read more

24 customers mention "Readability"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic and unputdownable read, with one customer noting it had them hooked on every word.

"Great book , I love the whole story from her Mother’s abuse , to meeting Aiden and their love story!" Read more

"...THE OCEAN BETWEEN US IS A FLAWLESS, EMOTIONALLY PACKED & HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL 5 STAR READ THAT DELIVERS ON EVERY LEVEL!!..." Read more

"...Don’t miss out this amazing book. I honestly can’t wait for the next book. I received this book for an honest review and that’s what I did." Read more

"...Between Us is an intense, gritty, heartbreaking, suspenseful yet sweet read...." Read more

19 customers mention "Character development"16 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting the chemistry between Aiden and Emma is hot, while another mentions there are plenty of threads and secondary characters.

"...He was the perfect match for Emma and I loved how patient, understanding, gentle yet protective he was...." Read more

"...read with brilliant and captivating plot and innovative multidimensional characters that sucks you in the story and keep you on tenterhooks ...." Read more

"...Honestly I felt like Emma was pretty believable as a character, she has all the signs of an abuse victims, she gets stuck in her head sometimes, and..." Read more

"...writer is Michelle Heard, she makes you smile, laugh, and cry for her characters, that is an exceptional gift she has!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Resilience"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's resilience, describing it as gritty and protective, with one customer noting how it is infused with the human spirit.

"The Ocean Between Us is an intense, gritty, heartbreaking, suspenseful yet sweet read...." Read more

"...It is powerfully emotional, riveting and raw, heartbreaking, thought provoking, and extremely well written...." Read more

"...Deeply emotional, rife with pain, infused with a resilience of the human spirit made for a wildly sweet and romantic story with so much heat it..." Read more

"...Emma us an amazingly, strong and magical young woman. Reared under the toughest of circumstances by an abusive mother...." Read more

3 customers mention "Dark tone"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the dark tone of the book.

"...such depth and dimension, heart and soul, good and evil, light and darkness, love and hate...." Read more

"...The Ocean Between Us was a dark, emotional and addictive read...." Read more

"...The story deals with mental & emotional abuse and other dark themes ...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it wonderful, while one customer describes it as amateurish.

"...I cried and I laughed, was anxious and angry at times too. It was very well written and sucked me right in. Loved every minute of it!" Read more

"...The aftermath didn’t read true to me, it was all over so quickly...." Read more

"...riveting and raw, heartbreaking, thought provoking, and extremely well written...." Read more

"...What a exceptional writer is Michelle Heard, she makes you smile, laugh, and cry for her characters, that is an exceptional gift she has!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Difficulty level"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book challenging to read.

"...with her mother is hard, it’s heartbreaking, it’s painful, and it’s just hard...." Read more

"This is a good story, although it took me awhile to really get into it. It seemed to move really slow at first...." Read more

"This book was challenging at times because of the subject matter but I would say it can really make you feel the different emotions from the..." Read more

A love story with substance
5 out of 5 stars
A love story with substance
This was a wonderful book. I truly loved it and the characters. Aiden was so compassionate and supportive of Emma and her psychological problems from the abuse her mother raised her with. Reading how they fall in love and over come the distance between was beautiful. A really good book to read.Available with KU
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    ★༻• 🌊•༺• 💦•༻• 🌊•༺★💦★༻• 🌊•༺• 💦•༻• 🌊•༺★༻• 🌊•༺• 💦•༻• 🌊•༺★💦★༻• 🌊•༺• 💦•༻• 🌊•༺★•
    THE OCEAN BETWEEN US IS A FLAWLESS, EMOTIONALLY PACKED & HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL 5 STAR READ THAT DELIVERS ON EVERY LEVEL!! OH THE “FEELS” IN THIS BOOK!!

    GAH!!!! It’s official… I have climbed aboard and joined the twisted sister mother-ship also known as the Michelle Heard Fan Club. I can’t wait and look forward to her next exciting ride. Because that’s exactly what you get with a dark romantic suspense novel written by this author.

    The Ocean Between Us is a beautiful love story but not in a traditional, perfectly wrapped cookie cutter way. It’s not for the faint of heart. It will test your limits and emotions. Having said that, I fell completely and madly in love with Aiden and Emma. I'm giving NO spoilers in this review.

    For me, this book had such depth and dimension, heart and soul, good and evil, light and darkness, love and hate.

    It is powerfully emotional, riveting and raw, heartbreaking, thought provoking, and extremely well written. It’s without a doubt a book you will remember for all the intense, and at times, difficult moments and gripping subject matter.

    But more importantly, you get an up close and personal front row seat to witness and follow Emma & Aiden on their journey and rejoice at the miracle of love that grows between these two people.

    The author keeps it real and sugar coats nothing. The shocking events that take place in this book can and do happen in reality, however disturbing it may be.

    My emotions were all over the place. I ugly cried, I yelled at the evil doers and let me tell you there are plenty of cringe worthy villains in this story. I wanted to throat punch, drop kick and bi#ch slap each and every one of them. Over and over and over again.

    But what I took away from this story is that despite all the evilness, despite the depravity and hopelessness that lies deep down, embedded between the pages of this book, there are cracks as well. Cracks deep in the crevasses of those pages.

    Cracks that opens up, however little, however slowly and what emerges from those cracks is healing, hope, courage and the awareness that even in the face of all that darkness and pain, you CAN find incredible happiness, peace and above all else, a bright and beautiful future filled with LOVE.

    I both love and can’t get enough of each and every one of the dark twisted tales of tortured souls and true love written by the tenacious and ever talented author Michelle Heard. This 5-star read, The Ocean Between Us is no exception.

    I can’t encourage you enough to go grab your copy of this book right now. You better prepare yourselves though and find a nice quiet spot because you will want to hide away from everyone. You will not be able to put this book down once your start reading. I couldn’t.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Ocean Between Us is an intense, gritty, heartbreaking, suspenseful yet sweet read. It will have your emotions running through the whole gamut by the time you reach the end. I was angry, sad, hopeful, happy, and everywhere in between.

    My heart broke for Emma yet like a proud parent I was thrilled when she set out to change her circumstances. I rooted for her to find that there was so much more out there for her. I loved Aiden from their first meeting and the more their story developed the harder I fell for him. He was the perfect match for Emma and I loved how patient, understanding, gentle yet protective he was. Though polar opposites Aiden was the light to Emma's dark and their emotional journey is one that kept me hooked.

    The Ocean Between Us was a dark, emotional and addictive read. The characters drew me in and had me emotionally invested from the very beginning as their journey had me glued to my Kindle. After this amazing introduction to the Southern Heroes series I can't wait to see what's next.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    After False Perceptions I was anxiously waiting and counting the days for Michelle’s next book and The Ocean Between Us didn’t disappoint me. Michelle has given another fantastic unputdownable read with brilliant and captivating plot and innovative multidimensional characters that sucks you in the story and keep you on tenterhooks . The characters are so skillfully developed you get an insight to their heart and mind and you can relate to their actions and words . Michelle sketches her characters so beautifully that they stay with you long after you’ve finished reading the story be it the protagonist of her stories or the negative characters and only a gifted author can do that . I have observed Michelle’s talent of captivating her readers with her eloquent words in all her books and she does it beautifully in this book as well . She weaves stories that tug your heartstrings .

    This story restores your faith that after darkness there is light, if there is evil in this world than true love also exists. It’s heartbreaking , heartwarming and quite a emotional roller coaster. Emma and Aiden meet through sheer serendipity . Emma is an innocent girl who has been through a lot of mental and emotional abuse. Once she meets Aiden he becomes her rock. There is so much more to Aiden than meet the eyes. Without giving any spoilers I loved their chemistry and connection and couldn’t stop falling in love with these two. These two were meant for each other and made each other whole. The story deals with mental & emotional abuse and other dark themes . There were some scenes which were gruesome but well justified and needed for the plot. While reading this story there were times my heart broke in pieces or I was clinching my jaws and few times I was in tears but Michelle made sure she put it all back together again by the time the story ends. I was emotionally invested in this book right from the first page. It was dark and emotional at times yet beautiful heart warming story.

    Michelle is a master at weaving beautiful stories and this one is no exception. What I love about her books is the seamless way they are intersperse with life lessons , pearls of wisdom and how they restore your faith in humanity. I throughly enjoyed this book, it was utterly perfect. Michelle is a genius and has done it again. Highly recommend this phenomenal story.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Kimberly Rattray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Aiden, every woman with traumas dream
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this book. Having gone through trauma myself the way emotional abuse was described,how it lives in your head till you believe it and the honest pure way aiden loves emma through all the trauma she endured it was a fantastic read.
    Aiden is honestly that man every woman with trauma dreams about who will cross an ocean for her and stand with her through the storm. Totally recommend giving it a read and there are some hoooot angsty scenes in as well
  • KM Lowe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is the first book I've read by this author, but I've read it in one sitting tonight. While there was a lot of repetition of words, I did get carried away with the story. I liked the characters, the story, the background, as the setting. The small twists kept it engaging. Emma and Aiden were loveable characters.
  • Cookie Munchkin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint hearted
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow and I so mean wow this book is not one for the faint hearted and take note of the warnings at the start of this book as it may contain triggers for some readers. This was a real emotional and ultimately beautiful story.

    Emma is finally free of her cold, abusive and controlling mother. Escaping to America with the help of her best friend Chloe she follows her advice and decides to take the bull by the horns and goes to a bar. She’d drawn to Aiden from the minute she sets eyes on him although the people that he is with set off her internal alarms but this night is for living and she propositions Aiden for a one night stand in her drunkenness, however when they get to the apartment it turns out she is his new roommate. The Chemistry between her and Aiden never goes away and soon they are inseparable. But being with Aiden brings a whole new danger in to her life and after a traumatic ordeal will she be able to bring herself back and will Aiden even want her if she does?

    Aiden is not the man that he appears, undercover as a student he is infiltrating a underground fighting and trafficking ring. The last thing he ever expected was to meet her, she turns his world upside down with her shy smiles and innocent appeal it’s no long before Aiden is well and truly under her spell and he will do anything to keep her safe and protected. After Emma is kidnapped his world crumbles and he cannot wait to have her in his arms again even if he has to tear the world apart to find her, but can she forgive him for failing her and how will he convince her to stay with him forever?

    This book is oh so much more, I devoured it and I am also not ashamed to say that there were parts that made my lip tremble and tears fall. Fab fab fab read and cannot wait for more in this series.
  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
    Reviewed in Australia on December 17, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Moved a bit fast for my liking but a good story
  • CLAYR CATHERALL
    5.0 out of 5 stars #TheOceanBetweenUs
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow! This book was something else!

    I went into this story blind, and didn’t know what was going to happen. Once I started I couldn’t stop reading. I was totally enthralled. It was emotional, gritty, suspenseful and really pulled at the heartstrings. One of my favourite books by Michelle Heard so far...

    Wanting to experience life, and escape her demons, Emma travels away to study....

    On her travels, she encounters Detective Aiden Holden, and her life is changed forever. He’s everything she could have wanted and dreamed of...

    Will he feel the same?
    Can he save her?
    Does love conquer all?

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?