In spring of 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries at the front, receives an unexpected message by carrier pigeon: it is an urgent summons from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life--a woman he believed to be dead. Leaving Britain’s shores to return into war-torn France, he hopes his reunion with her will ease his guilt and this mission restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.
Colin is stunned when he arrives in Paris to discover the message came not from Jewel, but from a stranger who claims to be her half-sister, Johanna. Johanna works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence; having found Jewel's diary, she believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is at first 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 however, that trust is at stake, as danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.
Colin is stunned when he arrives in Paris to discover the message came not from Jewel, but from a stranger who claims to be her half-sister, Johanna. Johanna works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence; having found Jewel's diary, she believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is at first 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 however, that trust is at stake, as danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.
ISBN-13: 9780764217821
Purchase links: http://katebreslin.com/books-2-2/
Character Interview with Colin Mabry
from Far Side Of The Sea by Kate Breslin
#1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends. Certainly, miss. My name is Colin Mabry—Lieutenant Mabry—and I’m an officer and former British cavalry in His Majesty’s Army serving in France. Currently I work for the British Secret Service in the seaside town of Hastings, and my job is to decode encrypted Army war intelligence delivered by carrier pigeon from across the sea.
I’m 21 years of age, but truth be told, combat has matured me well beyond my years. I have one sibling, a twin sister Grace, and her fiery hair and green eyes hardly resemble my own dark-haired, hazel-eyed looks. My features take more after those of our father, Patrick Mabry, owner of the prestigious Swan’s Tea Room in London. Our mother, Lillian, died in 1916 of tuberculosis, and it was during that time I enlisted to serve in the war. I haven’t any close friends to speak of, as most were killed in battle, however my sister’s fiancé Lord Walenford (who also happens to be my employer) seems to think he and I shall get on famously. I also have an uncle, Brian Mabry, who lives outside of Dublin. We grew close during the months I spent with him on his farm while recovering from my wounds.
I’m 21 years of age, but truth be told, combat has matured me well beyond my years. I have one sibling, a twin sister Grace, and her fiery hair and green eyes hardly resemble my own dark-haired, hazel-eyed looks. My features take more after those of our father, Patrick Mabry, owner of the prestigious Swan’s Tea Room in London. Our mother, Lillian, died in 1916 of tuberculosis, and it was during that time I enlisted to serve in the war. I haven’t any close friends to speak of, as most were killed in battle, however my sister’s fiancé Lord Walenford (who also happens to be my employer) seems to think he and I shall get on famously. I also have an uncle, Brian Mabry, who lives outside of Dublin. We grew close during the months I spent with him on his farm while recovering from my wounds.
|
#2. What is the ONE thing you just CAN'T do without? In a word, tea. Darjeeling if I can choose my favorite. A cup of tea has always had a most calming effect, and during my recovery in hospital from what doctors termed as “shell shock,” it was especially helpful.
#3. What do you most fear? I loathe being trapped into tight spaces—an ordeal which resulted in my injuries. The nightmares still haunt me.
|
#4. What is your greatest strength and your greatest flaw? By God’s grace I’ve been given a sound mind and the ability to reason out the clearest path of action, and this is probably my greatest strength. Among my worst flaws is that I tend to be overly critical and dislike change of any kind. Which is why a certain woman of my recent acquaintance drives me mad with her unexpected, impetuous behavior!
#5. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be? Though I dislike war in general, it was my duty and honor to serve my country and I do not regret my reasons. However, I would not have volunteered to help plant the explosives at the battle at Passchendaele last year, a duty that cost me dearly.
|
#6. What do you hope that people will learn from your story? I hope they realize that while all of us feel lost or afraid at times, God gives us the strength we need to conquer our fears and the courage to find new direction. He offers us the chance to live again and to rediscover who we are through His love.
#7. What is the most important thing to you? To open my heart to love and in return, to be loved. The love of God and those in my life who matter most.
|
|
#8. What comes next for you and where do you see yourself in the future? If I give you my answer then you’ll have guessed the ending to my story, and the author will have my hide for spoiling her novel. So let’s just wait and see what happens… ☺
Kate Breslin
|
Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate’s first novel, For Such A Time, was shortlisted for the Christy and RITA awards and won ACFW’s 2015 Carol award for Debut Novel. Kate's fourth novel, Far Side of the Sea, released in March 2019. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading, hiking in Washington's beautiful woodlands, and traveling abroad.
Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
Kate is generously giving away a print copy of Far Side Of The Sea
(USA ONLY)
World War 1 photo (Creative Commons attribution: "Armed Forces Day 2009" by ian.plumb, Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0)
RSS Feed
