Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

Title: Far Side of the Sea

Author: Kate Breslin

Pages: 384

Release Date: March 5, 2019

Genre: Historical Romance (WWI)

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, received a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life—a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

     Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel

s half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel’s diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

     When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

My review:

     This is an incredible historical romance!

     I absolutely loved both of the main characters. They each have wounds from their pasts that they are trying to learn to move past. I found that the exploration into how Colin has been affected emotionally by the physical wound from his time at the front during WWI was excellent. This is something that I knew on a surface level had to be the case. I had never really dug deep to try to understand what it was like.

     I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Colin was trusting God in the midst of his own struggles. He was able to speak encouragement when talking with Johanna to try and point her to God which is what we all need to be doing for those around us.

     I learned a lot about WWI reading this book. I found the information about the carrier pigeons to be fascinating. I was especially happy to read the Author’s Note at the back and find out that everything that was new to me was based on actual research that she did before writing this novel.

     I am giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*