Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

     In 1918 England, Lieutenant Colin Mabry spends his days decoding messages for MI8 after suffering injuries at the front. When he receives an urgent summons by carrier pigeon from Jewel Reyer--a woman who saved his life and whom he believed to be dead--he can only hope he'll regain the courage he lost on the front lines as he's driven back into war-torn France.
     But Jewel isn't the one waiting for him in Paris. Instead, it is a stranger who claims to be her half-sister, Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence. She found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Coli is at first skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust grows.
     That trust is quickly put to the test, however, when their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot and their search for answers quickly turns into a battle for their lives.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. It was filled with suspense, intrigue, and romance. Kate Breslin has created a well-balanced novel set during WWI that will leave the reader wanting more.

I love characters that are not only believable but ones that make the reader want to really know them. Lieutenant Colin Mabry and Johanna Reyer were just that, believable and so real that I wanted them to walk off of the page. From the very first page, I was pulled into the story and loved every minute of it. 

I really can't say anything negative about this book. I loved it from cover to cover and would highly suggest it to anyone who loves clean historical novels filled with suspense.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank the author for my copy of Far Side of the Sea.  I received my copy for free but I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Not By Sight by Kate Breslin

After I read Kate Breslin's debut novel, For Such a Time (read my review here.), I knew she was a voice I wanted to read again and again. Her newest novel, Not By Sight, is another delightful read that I found hard to put down. If you haven't read either of Ms. Breslin's work you are truly missing out.

The characters in Not By Sight captivated me from the first few pages and carried me along in their story until the very last page. I was there in England during WWI. I felt what Grace Mabry felt and wanted to help her help her country and ultimately her brother. I gasped when I saw the Tin Man's mask. I could go on and on but what I am saying here is that Ms. Breslin captures the feeling of the period. She takes simple words and turns them into a beautiful masterpiece that any artist would be proud of and might even envy. 

I enjoyed watching as Grace Mabry matured into a compassionate woman. One who finally understands the ugliness of war, I loved watching Grace and Jack's story unfold. The descriptions of the settings took my breath away and made me want to go back to that time so I could envision all that the story depicted. 

There is so much that I could say about this book, but I do not give out spoilers and so therefore all I will say is if you enjoy reading historical fiction this book is a must. You will find espionage and treason, the love of country, the love and faith in God, grace and love and hope. I can also say, it is a book that should hold your attention so strongly that you might want to set aside some time to ingest the story otherwise you might find yourself reading long into the night.

I would highly recommend Not By Sight to anyone who loves a good read. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Ms. Breslin and Bethany House Publishers for my copy of Not By Sight. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,