Gripping Sophomore Novel from a Rising Historical Romance Talent
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.
My Review:
published in 2015
My ‘re-read’ was courtesy of the audible edition expertly narrated by one of my fave narrators ever — Justine Eyre!
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This one has been hovering on the top of my TBR pile for a couple of weeks. As anxious as I was to read it since I loved Breslin’s debut novel, I was apprehensive too. Why? I dreaded reading that white feather scene. Anyone remember Walter Blythe in Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery? He’s Anne and Gilbert’s son — a gentle soul with a poet’s heart. He gets a white feather when he doesn’t enlist in the army as soon as war breaks out. My eleven-year-old heart took a beating over that scene and I still remember it to this day. So, yes, you might say that a former traumatic reading experience hindered my ability to pick up this book. (Now my book nerdiness is well and truly confirmed!)
I’m glad I overcame my trepidation though because Not By Sight is a soul-stirring read I wouldn’t want to miss. It’s definite Downton Abbeyambiance holds huge appeal while the gripping plot kept me spellbound. There are so many twists and turns and downright surprises! And the history revealed — aspects of the British home front in World War I that I wasn’t even aware of made this read all the richer.
I grew to love Grace (after the white feather incident!) She’s passionate about every cause she embraces, from the suffragette movement to supporting the war effort. And though she is from a privileged class, she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in order to help either cause. Her naivety at the beginning of the novel gradually falls away as she begins to grasp the fact that not everything can be measured in black and white.
Her hero, Jack, is as brooding as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. I loved their encounters. Witty dialogue highlights Grace’s gumption and humour. Jack is intrigued in spite of himself. But a different kind of intrigue is afoot as well. This is a spy story after all, and Breslin sets her characters (and readers) on a merry chase.
Absolutely loved the scripture tie-in for the book — both in story and title. For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is intricately woven throughout the plot and affects a multitude of characters in various ways. Breathtaking and uplifting stuff.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and available to any reader anywhere in the world so — yay — International Giveaway!
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Not By Sight, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 2, 2023
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