“Far Side of the Sea” is Kate Breslin’s newest release, and what a story it is!  This novel follows the journey of Johanna Reyer, and also of Colin Mabry, the twin brother of Grace Mabry, whom we already know from “Not by Sight”.  I was pleasantly surprised at the relation between these two books, as there was another release in between, but I greatly enjoyed the stories of these new characters, and also enjoyed revisiting a few that I already knew.

The plot of this book is absolutely astonishing.  I had no idea what would happen.  Some of my guesses were correct, and others were certainly not.  Plus, there were some downright shocking twists that seemed to come out of nowhere!  All of this combined with plenty of fascinating historical details made for an unforgettable, and truly masterful book.  It felt as though you were really living within the story.

In regards to the romantic storyline of “Far Side of the Sea”, I wondered at times if the budding relationship between the hero and heroine was completely appropriate, considering that Colin had a rather unresolved relationship with another.  Still, I cannot fault this completely, as this other relationship was exactly that – unresolved with really no firm commitment.

As I said, there is much history included in “Far Side of the Sea”.  Much of it is fascinating, such as the important use of carrier pigeons during the war.  I also loved reading about artwork containing secret messages during wartime.  Other aspects are more difficult to read about, such as stories from the war front, or the struggles of persecution faced by an “illegitimate” child.

I have found Kate Breslin to be an amazing author with a storytelling ability rivalled by few.  “Far Side of the Sea” is, in my opinion, her best work, and I shall eagerly await her upcoming releases.  In the meantime, I encourage you to take this journey with Colin and Johanna.  It is truly remarkable, full of fascinating history, and an absolutely unforgettable, and unpredictable, story.

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