Far Side of the Sea

By Kate Breslin

Published by Bethany House

Release Date: March 5th

ISBN: 978-0764233111

400 Pages

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction, Romance, Suspense Pigeons, WWI

About the Book: 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.

NORA’S REVIEW: Readers meet Lieutenant, Colin Mabry caught in the middle of a re-occurring nightmare. He’s in Hastings, Britain, the year 1918. He’s thankful to be awakened by a knock on his door that stopped his dream. He was being summonsed to decode some messages.

He decodes the messages quickly then comes across one addressed to him, requesting a meeting alone with Jewel (a women saved his life and hasn’t seen in over a year).

Colin attends the meeting but it turns out not to be the women he was looking for. This woman’s name is Johanna Reyer not Jewel. Johanna explains why she is here in Jewel’s place. She seeks his help to find a missing person.

I learned so much when Johanna shows Colin the Chateau de Gall. “We call it LaMaison des Oiseaux. The birdhouse.” She then explains “we work with pigeons that bring messages from the Front lines….We send intelligence on to your British Army headquarters at Montreuil.”

How they used these courageous birds was mind boggling. Colin was fascinated (and so was I) about the dovecote; which can hold up to 250 pigeons.

Jo pleads her case and tells Colin how she found him. Colin is on board to help find Jewel after seeing and reading her diary. They travel together posing as husband and wife. Colin says to Joanna, “So you need me more than protection.” He watched her with an unreadable expression. Jo met his gaze with honesty. “You are the only one who can tell me for certain if the woman is my sister.”

Sparks start to fly in more ways than one as Colin’s higher ups want him to head home. He stays the course with Jo in hopes he’d meet Jewel again. Things get increasingly complicated as the plot thickens. The two posing as husband and wife are drawn closer to each other physically and emotionally, as they get further in the line of danger. Together they discover clues they only share among themselves. They begin to realize they could only trust each other. I liked Colin and Jo and the special moments they shared in Paris.

The author says, “As one who appreciates learning history thru stories, I strive for historical accuracy in my novels whenever possible, but there is time when taking literary license is necessary.” Then she states what she had to change and why. I like when authors do that.

This is a mysterious, suspenseful read with a tender romance taken place during WWI, filled with adventure, a natural faith message and lots of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Some characters have to face their fears as the plot unfolds. I enjoy being entertained as I learned about aspects of WWI I had never heard of before. This makes for an enjoyable, fun read that would make a great book club pick. There is so much in here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher.  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”

Nora St. Laurent

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