Book Summary (Amazon): In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives 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 thoughts... In most novels, I tend to gravitate towards relating most to the heroine. In this novel, however, I was most drawn to the hero, Colin, and his story. His journey from being a wounded war hero with PTSD, anxiety, and no desire to do anything beyond a quiet routine to someone who is willing to reengage and take risks for love was beautifully written. The vulnerability he had is something that always appeals to me in a hero, but he also had courage to overcome. Maybe it's just me, but Johanna's character was kind of hard for me to connect to. I guess I couldn't completely figure her out. Was she the savvy tough girl who likes to wear men's clothes that was raised by an Irish militant or was she the feminine French young lady who wears fashionable clothes and is so stubborn that she makes some unwise choices in order to get her way? She's Irish, but lives in France and her hero is Napoleon. In my mind I was trying to imagine her accent as she spoke, but just couldn't. There was just a lot going on there for me. Maybe she's supposed to be mysterious and I missed it.
Other than my connection issues with the characters, the novel had the same kind of plot twists and exciting moments that previous Breslin novels have. I really started getting that fun jittery feeling about mid-way through the book. I thought the romantic tension was nice as the characters had obstacles to overcome. Overall I believe most Christian fiction readers will find this book quite enjoyable, but Kate Breslin's "For Such a Time" still holds the top spot for me.

**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest review, which I did.**

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin is a stand alone novel set in World War I. Colin Mabry receives a message from his former presumed dead girlfriend via carrier pigeon asking for help. His journey involves mistaken identities, espionage, spies, and danger along the way. I found this book to have a slow pace, and it was hard to draw me into the action.

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin had all the elements one loves to see in a book - danger, romance, mystery and a little humour here and there. I didn't find out until the end of the book that the main character, Colin Mabry, had been the subject of a previous book and now his story was being told. Suffice it to say this read quite well as a stand-alone book.

At first, I was wondering why this was marketed as a Christian book because I was quite into the story before there was any mention of God or indication that the characters were believers. But, as in life, not everyone talks about their faith unless an opportune moment arrives. Such was the case with Colin as he tried to introduce Johanna to praying to and trusting in God. Her life experiences held her back from trusting anyone much less God, so it was a moving scene when she finally began to take a step in faith.

The growing romance between the two characters was sweet even though they each took their time in trusting each other.

Speaking of trust, there were so many wily characters in this book the end took me by surprise. I expected something but was very surprised at the final reveal. An indication of great writing!

If you like WWII books, romance and intrigue you will love this book!

Well-written historical fiction set in WWI in Europe. Far Side of the Sea tells the story of Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier who receives notice that a woman he once loved, Jewel, needs his help. Traveling to France he discovers the sister of Jewel, Johanna. Colin & Johanna set off to rescue Jewel, traveling to across France & Spain, not knowing who they can trust. Romance and mystery mingle together with suspense and war-time intrigue. Great book!

Far Side of the Sea is another winner by Kate Breslin. I have no doubt it will be among my top favorites I have read in 2019. I love how she vividly describes the setting and era. I felt like I was transported back to World War I. I loved Colin and Johanna. I enjoyed watching them grow throughout the story.
Far Side of the Sea gets a well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean historical fiction.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

Now this is the type of book I like to read! I wasn’t really a fan of a different book by this author, so I was hesitant to ask for this one from NetGalley. Yet, there was something about the cover that drew me in. Having gone in with an open yet cautious mind (yes, I realize that sounds oxymoronic), I was pleasantly surprised to be completely swept away to 1910s England, France, and Spain on this wonderful adventure involving heroics, pigeons, spies, and a dash of romance.

Mrs. Breslin really shines in the WWI era. I’m now looking forward to reading more of her books. I love how she brought the settings and characters and, yes, the pigeons to life for me. I could nearly smell the salty sea breeze at one point, and I very much felt like Colin and Johanna were dear friends to me way before the midway point of this one. I’ll be revisiting this one for sure.

One particular lovely bit was that the leading man was an amputee. This gave me all sorts of wonderful chills. It's unusual to see this type of thing highlighted, let alone written in such a stunningly beautiful way. I applaud this author for her bravery in writing an exquisite character with a debilitating disability yet who fought hard to find his way back into independence and heroics. Colin was my favorite character in this book, and very likely my favorite character I've met this calendar year (2019).

My only complaints: one expletive and a strange replacement expletive phrase of “Titan’s teeth” (which kept popping up). That one was bizarre and completely unnecessary.

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives 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.

I enjoyed reading this book. It started out rather slow as it was setting the stage for the trip to Paris. Once they got to Paris the pace picked up considerable. As the plot unfolded, I had trouble figuring out who was the good guys were. It kept me guessing for quite a while. They mystery was well woven throughout the book. The characters were likeable. Although Johanna used deceit to get Colin to meet her in Paris, all she wanted to do was find her father. Colin was still recovering from the trauma he experienced on the war front. Today we would call it PTDS. He was still very self conscious of not having a hand. I would recommend this book to those who like a good mystery.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I loved learning about WWI and how carrier pigeons were used to get messages to and from certain areas. This had a great amount of history and just the right amount of romance. There was even some intrigue thrown in. I loved the characters of Colin and Johanna. It is fun to see how they learn to trust one another during these trying times. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Carrier pigeons are a genius way to send messages! I was fascinated by the reality of this historical form of communication and I’m delighted that the author thought to add it to her novel.
This plot had a lot of atypical scenes and descriptions in it including a femal motorcycling government employee and a prosthetic wearing main character. All of these details made this book really enjoyable. I would recommend this book to younger readers as well!

Allow me to preface this by saying that if you enjoy historical fiction and have not read any of Kate Breslin’s books, you are truly missing out. Her stories shine in this genre for their factual historical accuracy and their heart. The redemptive thread woven throughout each novel whispers hope and encouragement to the reader. Not only will you learn something along the way, but you’ll also connect with her characters on an emotional and perhaps spiritual level. That is the mark of exceptional historical fiction. Achieving that delicate balance of plot, history, and character requires skill, and Breslin always executes it brilliantly.

“Far Side of the Sea” exceeds all of Breslin’s previous books for its excitement and complexities. Although it can serve as a standalone, readers will benefit from reading “Not By Sight” first, as “Far Side of the Sea” is a sequel of sorts and will spoil who ends up with whom. Picking up “Far Side of the Sea” is like stepping into 1918 England in the midst of World War I. The story takes place apart from the actual conflict, yet the battle exists as a haunting echo throughout the narrative. War hero Colin Mabry answers the beckoning of Jewel, the girl he left behind a year ago, only to find that the woman who contacted him is her sister, Johanna, who believes that Jewel is being held against her will by a German agent. In spite of his suspicions, he heeds the call of his conscience, and in so doing falls down the rabbit hole of espionage and tenuous alliances on a cross-country mission.

Aside from having read “Not By Sight” when it released, I went into “Far Side of the Sea” knowing only that it was Colin’s story. I purposely did not read the summary beforehand because I did not want to ruin any surprises. And were there ever surprises! You know that the author is doing a fantastic job with her characters when you do not know whom to trust and when they continually turn your perceptions upside down. The plot is impressively intricate, with layer upon layer of intrigue right up to the last. Yet within all of the espionage is a tender love story and a budding faith, heartwarming moments amidst the realities of war. Also, some thought-provoking historical tidbits pepper the narrative. It never occurred to me that carrier pigeons only fly one way, and I did not know that a facsimile of Paris was constructed to divert German Gotha bombers. Colin’s struggle with the aftereffects of shell shock, now known as PTSD, and the role that this plays in the story is both heartwrenching and captivating and is handled gracefully. Much of what makes “Far Side of the Sea” so compelling is that it opens the door to the world a century ago and shows us that it is not so very removed from our world today. We still grapple with our own personal fears, but when we find and strengthen our faith in the One who made us and loves us, we realize that nothing can separate us from Him, not even if we find ourselves on the far side of the sea.

Colin Mabry, decorated war hero, still cringes when he hears the Keiser’s guns bombarding Paris. He knows the shells won’t reach him in Hastings, across the Channel on the English side, but nevertheless they bring back memories of battles where guns did reach. And although he can’t fight again—what army would want a man with only one hand—he feels a measure of satisfaction in decoding messages sent from the front by carrier pigeons.

One of the messages bears his name and mysterious plea to carry out a promise he made while hidden in a French village. Colin knows that despite his injuries, his nightmares, and his regret, he must return to France to keep his promise.

His boss and future brother-in-law, Lord Walenford, approves Colin’s trip to Paris to save the woman who hid him from the enemy, nursed him back to health, and sealed their love with a kiss. During the long months of recovery and training for his new post, Colin had never imagined that Jewel Reyer still lived.

When he arrives in Paris, a woman who looks like a younger version of Jewel meets him at the café—and a simple venture takes on a dangerous new twist as he assists three secret agencies in identifying the mysterious woman with the man known as Kepler.

Johanna

Johanna Reyer has never met her sister. Born to a fiercely independent Irish woman who turned down Johanna’s father’s marriage proposal, Johanna grew up ostracized by her grandfather and society because of her illegitimacy. She has vague memories of her father visiting her in Ireland when she was very young.

When her mother dies, she makes her way to Paris to find her father. When she stumbles across a diary belonging to Jewel Reyer, she realizes for the first time that she has a sibling. While she searches for both her sister and her father, Johanna uses her knowledge and skills with carrier pigeons to assist the war effort against the Keiser.

With the help of her friends, she sends a message to the mysterious Lieutenant Mabry, hoping against hope that he’ll help her find her sister.

After a rocky start, Colin and Johanna agree that they can both reach their goals more quickly if they work together. Their unlikely partnership leads them across France and into Spain. Together they face spies, danger, and their own growing attraction for each other.

I look forward to every book with Kate Breslin’s name on the cover and snapped up the opportunity to read her March release. Astute readers will remember briefly meeting Colin Mabry in Not By Sight. And now he gets his own book.

This World War I romance introduced me to the use of carrier pigeons during the war. The entire book is so well researched, I felt like I was right there with these characters are they travel from England to France to Spain.

Now, let’s talk Colin and Johanna, a hero and heroine who are excellently developed through the course of the story. Despite Colin’s past war experiences—which certainly could make a man bitter—this particular man is kind, loyal, and filled with integrity. And Johanna. Oh, I just loved her. She’s courageous yet vulnerable, and sometime just a tad hilarious (as are Colin’s thoughts toward her schedule-keeping).

The mystery woven throughout Far Side of the Sea is revealed in a way that leaves several surprises in store for readers. A romance that seems doomed to fail steadily takes root in the midst of danger, and the spiritual thread is spot-on.

Bottom line, if you haven’t read a book by Breslin yet, you need to so why not start here?

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

"Far Side of the Sea" is a romance set in 1918 in England and France. This appears to be the second book in a series, and significant events happened to Colin in the previous book. However, we get a summary of what happened from Colin's viewpoint, so this book works as a standalone. I had thought that code breaking and messenger pigeons were going to play a significant role in the story, but they don't. Jo secretly took a messenger pigeon along while they searched for her father, even though she knew that having a messenger pigeon could have gotten them in trouble. Yet the pigeon wasn't actually necessary to the plot as she could have sent her message several other ways.

The author wove many WWI details and bits of trivia into the story. The main characters had a lot of back story and struggled with insecurities based on that past. The reader sees events through the viewpoint of every critical character, so we have a good idea about what's going on. While not clearly explained, there were enough hints and clues that later events were not a surprise to me. The main characters, however, had no idea and mainly focused on telling each other about their past and falling in love. I liked that they got to know each other and worked well together. It's just that the suspense didn't kick in until the very end when the whole thing could have been highly suspenseful.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance.

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 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.

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.*

“Far Side of the Sea” by Kate Breslin, who is one of my favorite authors, kept me interested all the way through the novel. I was skeptical of this book because of the subject of carrier pigeons being used as messengers during WW I. Although I knew they were a means of communication, I was unaware of the means of their service. It was more involved than I previously thought.

This novel includes the interaction of an injured MI8 soldier, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, working in the decoding office for the British government and a girl, Jewel Reyer, he met behind the lines in German-held France, who helped him by nursing his injuries until he could rejoin his regiment. He has been contacted supposedly by her for help to escape being in the custody of a German officer. Whether or not this German is a double agent or not is yet to be seen. The girl he meets is not the one he knows, but her sister, Johanna. She is trying to find Jewel and knows about Colin from Jewel’s diary.

This may seem to be a straightforward missing person’s investigation, but there are so many “bends in the road” that it was hard to keep up. That is what I like about Ms. Breslin’s novels – she keeps the reader on his toes and interested with each page turn. Very good book for readers of historical fiction and historical romance novels.

This is an amazing book. It really kept me riveted, very hard to put down to do anything!
1918 England we find Lieutenant Mabry receiving a letter via carrier pigeon from a woman who he thinks is another woman he met previously. Upon agreeing to meet her and help her he finds it's not the woman he thought it was but her sister that he agrees to help . Trust is not something that comes easily to Lieutenant Mabry and he is tense around the woman, Johanna. Johanna is a dovecote for French Army Intelligence. After finding her sister's diary she has an urgency to find her and believes her father is with her sister Jewel. Spies are absolutely everywhere and spies trust no one especially other spies. Can't let your guard down even for a minute as it could mean capture or even worse death. Venture forth as this intensely gripping story takes you through France and Spain. I could not predict this one, I just didn't see what was coming with the many twists and turns. I was fascinated to read how the carrier pigeons were used during WWI even flying and doing their duty after being injured, amazing! Encryption played a big part in this book too. Bravo, I was fascinated with your book, Kate.
Published March 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

Far Side of the Sea
By Kate Breslin
This engaging tale is set during WW2. Colin and Johanna are seeking to find the same missing person, Collin’s love and Johanna’s sister. With no one to trust they stick together pretending to be married as they travel in search of Jewel. In their search, they find that the farce of pretending to be in love is no longer a farce. There is so much at stake though and the closer they get to their goal the more dangerous their roles become. This exciting read blends adventure and romance into the perfect suspenseful read. I really enjoyed getting caught up in the drama of Colin and Johanna adventure.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here. To continue this review visit: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

This is a book that I devoured in a day and even stayed up late to finish it. I really enjoyed reading a novel set during WWI. It was nice to have a war novel, and it be different from the other war novels out there. I liked how Breslin decided to tackle the topic of 'Shell Shock' as it was known during WWI, we now know it as PTSD. I also like how the main character, Colin, was also physically injured due to his time in battle. It is great to see this representation in the book.

The plot of this book was so fun. I enjoyed how Colin and Johanna were going to do all that they could to figure out what happened to Johanna's sister, Jewel. I liked the determination these character possessed to continue on until they got the answers they wanted. 

I also enjoyed the carrier pigeons included in this novel. I did not know much about their work during the war, and I love it when I learn something new while reading a book.

Even if I had nothing else good to say about this book - I do, BUT if I didn't - the historical detail alone would be such a reason to read this. It's fantastic. I love that we get to travel to several different places. I love the carrier pigeon angle (especially late in the story!). The romance was sweet with realistic obstacles...and I especially appreciated the characters' backstories and the way come back into play to affect the romance. Another wonderful read from Kate Breslin!

Far Side of the Sea was a well written story of Lieutenant Colin Mabry, and Johanna Reyer as they search for Johanna's sister Jewel, and their father, Jacob during World War I. There are spies, secrets, and of course, romance. It is a sweet, clean, romance, that keeps you interested until the very end!