I liked the premise of a woman yearning to smuggle her siblings out of occupied France. That she found herself in the midst of the Belgian Resistance was a sweet bonus. It was especially intriguing that the leads were a nurse and an injured pilot. Those two positions lent themselves well to the espionage work. My favorite thing was that they were married but the story was still a charming romance. The plot was complex and kept me intrigued throughout.

I was disappointed in the bad language that showed up here and there, in both English and French.

Content: French and English profanity, replacement profanity, expletives, attempted rape, miscarriage, sensuality, Catholicism, tobacco, alcohol

Beautiful, rich story. An author you'll love.
Christian historical. A novel of spies and underground fighters in WW2. It amazes me that with all the war stories, there are still so many more. This is intricate. The author strove to show the hardships of those who lived in occupied countries like Belgium and France, and to share the remarkable people of the Great War who worked behind enemy lines. You'll become completely engrossed as the characters come fully to life, full of grief and pain, and very little hope, yet doing their best to fight back in ways they could. And what they did was significant. People were so incredibly smart and resourceful even when they seemed completely dominated, yet they contributed to the fall of the German army. Excellent story to get lost in!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. 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 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

High As The Heavens by Kate Breslin is a fabulous Christian historical suspense set in 1917 in war torn and occupied Belgium. It is a work of fiction that has been inspired by fact.
The reader is treated to fast paced action as we journey through WWI with spies, agents, double agents etc. There is always the question of trust. Sometimes we trust the right people but not always.
War alters people. There is a different moral code. People do what they have to do in order to survive. Guilt reigns in the cold light of day. "She... allowed the tyrant guilt to keep her locked in the past, blinding her to... hope." We cannot live in the past, carrying the burden of guilt. We must look to God and live in hope, especially in times of war.
War produces good men and women on both sides. The key is in recognising who they are.
The Red Cross provided nurses to treat all the wounded. "I tended to the wounded in my care, regardless of uniforms... They were all human beings." We need to remember that every soldier is somebody's son. There are no winners in war. Loved ones are lost on all sides.
It may seem that God is silent or even absent. God never leaves us. He walks beside us always. We need to learn to recognise His voice and feel His presence.
The action came thick and fast as I experienced a roller coaster of a read through the world of war and espionage. Absolutely marvellous. I was consumed from the start.
I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

High as the Heavens was a captivating novel set during WWI. I found myself drawn into the story relatively quickly and it got to where I did not want to put the book down (seriously, I kept picking it back up to read every chance I could find). :)

At first I wasn't sure what I thought about the story when it switched from present to past events; but, after thinking about it some more, I realized that it actually helped me understand the backstory better and I now love the way that was written.

The romance was lovely and I felt for the characters so much. They went through a lot and I was hoping things would work out for them in the end.

All in all, while High As the Heavens is my first read by Kate Breslin, I definitely plan on reading more of her stories now. I highly recommend this book!

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

High as the Heavens was a tightly written book with drama and history at every turn. I love books by Kate Breslin because she always keeps me riveted to my seat. The premise drew me in and the writing didn't disappoint. I look forward to her next book! All opinions stated here are my own.

For anyone who likes to read historical fiction, this is a good read.

Oh my goodness, nail biter!!! What an incredible story set in WWI in German occupied Belgium.

I really felt that I could not read fast enough….. I needed to know what was going to happen next as fast as possible while being aware that I also needed to savor it. Katie Breslin’s stories are worth the wait. (What I mean is, until she clones herself and can write, say 4 books a year, or more….we have to wait for the normal human-publishing industry wait between books.)

On a sreious note though, I learned so much about the history of the time and the atrocities that took place in the war. Families were ripped apart and yet what came through in the book was the human spirit’s incredible will to survive and overcome in such brave and clever ways. Pushing back the darkness and fighting their own war, in their own way.

This story is full of mystery, intrigue, romance and just pure bravery in the face of atrocity, hope in the face of trials, and it left me grateful for the freedom many fought for that we enjoy today. May we never forget.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

Kate write great stories about time during the world wars so if you love historical fiction, give this book a go.

Eve is a nurse during WWI and spends her time working at a hospital during the day and in her aunt and uncle's cafe in the evenings. She also helps the resistance as a spy. The book details her interactions with German soldiers and with patients, all the while trying to find out details about her brother and sister's disappearance. A plane conveniently crashes in her village, the only survivor her thought-to-be-dead husband. She nurses him back to health and helps plan his escape.

I loved her previous books but found this one dry. Too much detail and the story drags for me.

This epic historical novel as a whole heap of everything—well-researched history, captivating romance, deep and intriguing characters, heart-wrenching suspense, a plethora of emotions, and so much more. Eva and Simon’s journey in WWII Brussels is full of plot twists, pain, betrayal, frustration, complications, and most of all love.

I don’t normally read “war” books, but what an amazing World War II Christian Fiction and it has made me want to pursue reading others in the future! This one kept me reading page after page after page. With all the situations that the characters were facing with war coming, it being all around them and everything, it was really intense and exciting to follow. To see a glimpse in a fictional way of what those days looked like for the people living through it…. WOW. The author, Kate, does an amazing job at painting this historical fiction in such a way that it will bring you anticipation, fear and relief with other feelings along the way.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Due to the nature of this story, my review will be relatively brief in order to avoid spoilers. I highly recommend this book!

Eve is the kind of heroine readers love wholeheartedly! I admire her courage, intelligence, and loyalty. While she wrestles with her faith and grief, Eve's work with the Belgian resistance makes it necessary for her to keep secrets from her loved ones and take risks with their safety as well as her own.

The challenges and pressures of the folks have who have experienced war at this level are hard to comprehend yet the author gives readers a glimpse of their story. High as the Heavens reveals not only the bravery of the characters but also their heart, resilient spirit, and faith! May we never forget.

I requested the opportunity to read this book through the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

Evelyn Marche is a nurse serving in Belgium, working part time for her Aunt and Uncle at their cafe, she also gathers intelligence for the Allies. But when the husband that she thought was dead for three years falls from the sky, she is willing to do whatever she can to keep him safe from the Germans.

Simon awakens to see the face of his beautiful wife, Evelyn. Can he trust the woman that he married three years ago with his life, and will her dangerous game save his life or cause him to lose it? Can Evelyn and Simon trust each other with their lives?

Evelyn is a nurse tending to both sides of the war with her nursing skills, she has thought her husband dead for three years, so when he turns up in the street, fallen form the sky she is shocked. Evelyn is a brave woman willing to fight to protect the ones that she loves. I admired her quick thinking and awareness.

Simon has been working undercover for three years, unbeknownst to his wife that he is even alive, when he awakens to see his wife working in a German hospital. Evelyn is determined to keep her secrets, trying to shield him from danger, but as he sees her friendliness with the enemy, he wonders if her keeping information from him is really for his safety. Simon is a good man, he is a man of action, who hates being tied up in a hospital bed.

Rich in history, it explores the life of the Belgians living under German control. Great chemistry between Evelyn and Simon, as they get to know each other again, amongst the intrigue and conspiracy around them. A page turning read, full of suspenseful twists, and tension filled moments as Simon and Evelyn fight to protect the people that they love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

ate Breslin has done it again. Her WWI novel High as the Heavens is an instant hit among readers. This is a fabulous and delightful romance story with a bit of mystery intertwined that will make readers not want to put down this historically detailed and filled novel. From the beginning, this historically rich story will grip the heart strings of readers and remind them of the true meaning of love and family. Breslin does an excellent job of bringing to life the events of WWI in this exquisite story in a way that will not soon be forgotten. Readers will definitely want to pick this book up at their local bookstores.

Genre: historical, romance, mystery, WWI, Christian
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication date: June 6, 2017
Number of pages: 395

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin is a well crafted historical novel that delves into life during WWI in German occupied Brussels. I thought the storyline was well written and included the perfect amount of suspense, mystery, danger, romance, and tragedy. Kate Breslin did an excellent job researching life during WWI behind enemy lines, and I felt very connected to the story, characters, and setting. The novel also contained well integrated topics, such as forgiveness (of others and oneself) and sacrifice. The main characters, Evelyn and Simon, are realistic and well developed, and I found myself heartbroken for Evelyn as she had to deal with the horrors of war and what she had endured. I loved watching her work through her past and find renewal and hope. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I would definitely recommend this novel and Kate Breslin's other novels to readers who enjoy well written and intriguing historical fiction.

I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Katie’s first too books so I was very excited when this book came out. Honestly, it didn’t’ even matter to me what it was about because it was by Kate.
Eve is a woman with great strength and takes risks to do what she believes is right and help those who need it.
Simon is equally determined but finds himself in situations where he can’t do much.
I really wanted to love this book. I told myself to keep reading, keep reading, something will grab you. And sometimes things did grab me but I never really connected with this story and I really wanted to. I’m not even sure what is was. There is a lot going on, there’s never a dull moment but I never fell into the story to the point where I was unable to put the book down.
There are a lot of good things in this book but for some reason this one didn’t connect with me. As always, this is my opinion only.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic historical fiction, mystery, and redemption all in one terrific story!

In 1917 German occupied Brussels, Evelyn Marche is just trying help the Allies while working as a nurse for the Red Cross. She believed that she had lost many of her family members during the occupation, until she recently learns that her brother and sister were able to escape a work camp train and flee to France. She also believed herself to be a widow of the war until a plane crashes near her hospital and she finds her husband was a survivor, but also an Allied spy. Now she must figure out a way to save him without jeopardizing her position. But being apart three years has changed both of them. The more they learn about each other, the more secrets between them are uncovered. Will they be able to be a family again if this war ever stops?

As usual, Kate Breslin does a great job weaving a story together set in war ravaged Europe. Not much focuses on the Great War itself, but on the internal war within Evelyn. She has gone through so much in a short period of time that has really challenged her faith, as I have to believe it would have mine as well. The treatment she received the first night of the occupation as well as losing most of her family members would easily tear up someone’s soul. Simon’s had to rely on his faith to make it through multiple POW camps just to hope to see his wife again. Setback after setback, he still managed to make it through and trust in God. He was a very likable character that we all need to have a friend that resembles him. If you are going through inner struggles today, I suggest you read Eve’s story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Occasionally, there are those stories that just blow you away. Whether it be the writing, the characters, or the plot. Kate Breslin’s new novel, High as the Heavens, has all of those things and more.

On a side note: I actually bounced back and forth between reading a digital copy of this book that I received for review and an audiobook version from Audible read by Renee Ertl. I had enough things that I needed to do that did not allow me to just and read so an audiobook seemed like a good compromise… but I loved listening to this book!

Okay, but as for the story itself… This novel had so many twists and turns that I never knew where the story would take me next. Because of this, I really couldn’t get through this book fast enough. The characters were fabulous—that perfect blend of heroics and flaws. Add that into a setting the is fraught with dangers and struggles due to the war and a bit of espionage, and well, this is just a novel that can’t be put down.

If you enjoy historical fiction and WWI settings, this is a great book and one that I can highly recommend.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Loved this book because it was so much more than just a historical romance. All I really expected was a mixture of history and romance and instead also got suspense and intrigue as well!

There are so many books based in WWII that it thrills me when an author picks a less written about time like WWI. I sadly haven't studies WWI as much as WWII but I love reading Breslin's books because they are so well researched and I actually learn a lot without feeling like I'm studying history. I love how she bases her story on real life events and also people or a combination thereof.

I was hooked from the very first page and loved the different facets of the story involving Eve and her family and also her work as a nurse. My mom is a nurse so I really liked reading about a historical nurse that helped so many people in so many ways.

In a historical romance based during wartime I am always impressed when an author finds the perfect balance between realistic details and too much gore. High as the Heavens does have a few scenes that are fairly gruesome but they are written very well with only enough detail to make a point without being over the top. She achieved her goal of making me feel the pain of the situation without making me wish I could go back in time and unread what I'd read. Plus the inclusion of difficult passages honestly made the book much more realistic since terrible things happen in wartime.

In the end I think the biggest reason I loved this book was because there were so many moments of suspense and I never once figured out who the bad guys were. Since the book also focused on different members of the world of espionage it was a constant concern of who was working for the good guys and definitely gave me moments of heart-stopping action.

Normally I don't care for books that are written in dual times. But Breslin did it so well that I found myself drawn into the story in both times. Usually I find myself skimming to get back to my favorite time period of the story and this time I found myself doing the opposite and savoring every page of the story.

I truly cannot recommend this book enough. It is the best book I've read by Breslin and I've read all of her works.People who loved Not by Sight are going to love this book because she really takes her writing up another level with this book.

The publisher through NetGalley provided me an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

High As the Heavens is another intriguing story by Kate Breslin that takes place during WWI. As with her previous books, For Such a Time, and Not By Sight, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I suppose ‘enjoyed’ might not be the best word choice, due to the wartime setting, but you know what I mean.

I was pulled into the story and easily captivated by Eve and Simon. I do have to admit it took me a few chapters to get my momentum going (not the case in the previous books) but once I did, I couldn’t put the book down. Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, as is Ms. Breslin.

If you love wartime stories with powerful messages and lots of surprises and action, then this story is for you. It is inspirational, moving, fast-paced book.


5 Stars

Cover: LOVE
Title: LOVE
Pages: 400
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764217814
First Line: Like manna from heaven, the words fell from the sky.
I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House and NetGalley.

Wow. I have been so lucky lately with fantastic books to read. The last few have not disappointed. I am a mystery/thriller fan. but I think I love historical fiction a little bit more. Breslin creates an amazing story and weaves World War I history into the novel beautifully. She used this setting to help add richness to the plot that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this book – which is why I finished it in less than three days.

Eve and her mother are in Belgium during the first World War. She works as a nurse for the Germans, but she has more secrets under this one facade. As she is going to do a mission for her ‘secret group,’ she realizes that it is going to be more complicated than ever anticipated. She saves a man from a plane crash, and he is British. She soon must use her knowledge and quick thinking to try to get him out of German occupied Belgium. Will her plan work, or will she have to answer to the Germans for what she’s done?

I was pulled in right away. Breslin’s writing is wonderful, and she sets the plot to seem so real. This book isn’t only focused on the war. It also focuses on Eve, and the struggles she has faced from living during this time of war. I really enjoyed how Breslin added so many different elements to the story. There is some love, hurt, and wondering about God and His goodness. There are deep lessons that anyone could take away from the book about His truth and goodness. Eve’s struggles are one’s that I think many could sympathize with in their faith walk. I would encourage anyone who is struggling with the concept of grace and mercy to pick this up. Even though the story is fiction, the struggles are real and relatable. These thoughts about God are one’s even I have wrestled with at one time or another.

I would highly encourage anyone to pick up this book, and give it a go. You won’t be disappointed. I loved it so much, and can’t wait to read her other works.