Thursday, August 27, 2015

Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

Not by SightOverview: With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country’s cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she’ll set off when she hands a feather to Jack.

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them–or the faith they’ll need to maintain hope.

ISBN-13: 9780764211614 | Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication date: 08/04/2015 | Pages: 384
Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD
Read an Excerpt.

My Review: Any book pertaining to war, even if it's not current day, makes me nervous because of how closely our current day war has affected me. However, I am SO glad I picked this novel up for review. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. The characters were amazing. The setting was described so well, it was like I was in the fields with Grace and her WFC cohorts. The author painted an amazing picture of the turbulent times London and Great Britian found herself in during WWI. The plot was so intriguining, it kept me guessing until the very end. I mean, I had my suspicions, but at every turn, they changed! I loved it.

Grace, sweet, naive Grace. I absolutely loved her character. Her patriotism and concern for her brother shown through in every action throughout the book. Her loyalty to her family and her Country was evident, and her faith was strong. She is a shining example of what a Christian should be, even with her faults (that take her a while to recognize in herself). Then there's Jack. What can I say about him? He's definitely a swoonworthy rogue in the beginning, but after Grace's second encounter with him, he begins to change. His development throughout the story is most notable and I loved him more for it. Grace's cohorts in the WFC were as interesting secondary characters as the main characters. Each girl had her own story, and their loyalty to their "family" warmed my heart.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight," (2 Corinthians 5:7) is the theme in this book and is very evident throughout the story. Even as Grace struggles to come to term with this verse in her own life, she sets the example for her friends and for Jack, without realizing it. That the author thought to give Grace that quality, when she didn't think she had it, is phenomenal. At the end of the story, I felt like I had been handed a present, wrapped up and topped with a bright, shiny bow. Everything came together in an unexpected, but very happy ending.

Overall, I am super glad that I decided to read this story, because I definitely loved it. I will be reading more by this fantastic author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogging program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*

Kate BreslinAbout the Author: A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest. These days, when she’s not writing inspirational fiction or spending time with her author friends, she’s reading books, watching anything Jane Austen on BBC, or following John’s musical career as his #1 fan. An avid “tree-hugger” she often enjoys long walks in the forests or playing in the garden. Kate’s also a traveler–she and John have toured most of Washington state and many places in the U.S. And with her intrepid mom as traveling companion, Kate’s also been abroad–Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. She’s always looking for the next story idea! 

Connect with Kate: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

1 comment:

  1. I always enjoy a book that pleasantly surprises me because of good writing and character development. The plot becomes secondary but still very important. An author who can engage me emotionally is always worth reading. I love the theme of this book as well. Thank you for your honesty in this review, Shannah.

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