"Not by Sight" by Kate Breslin

Not by Sight (Aug. 4, 2015) by Kate Breslin.*

The color white stands for many things: purity, innocence, light, mourning. Grace Elizabeth Mabry, the daughter of Patrick Mabry, one of London’s wealthiest tradesmen thanks to his tea business (Swan’s Tea Room), hands a white feather of cowardice to Jack Benningham, Earl of Stonebrooke. Grace, a suffragette, is full of patriotism, especially since her brother, Colin, is fighting in the war (it’s 1917, so WWI), so by handing a white feather to Jack, she’s telling him that he’s a coward for not representing Britain in the war, as he is an able-bodied man.

            Things turn for them both when Grace and her lady’s maid/friend, Agnes Pierpont, volunteer for the Women’s Forage Corps. It’s more work than Grace has ever done in her life, but it’s better than the house arrest she’s been under. They’re assigned to Roxwood, where dwells a monster.

            Naturally, that “monster” is Jack Benningham. He knows the name Grace Mabry, but he doesn’t know her face, because he can’t see it. Great tests are in front of the both of them. Grace will need her faith more than ever, and Jack needs to regain his. There will be hurt, the likes of which happens only when you fall too hard for someone and care too deeply. Unfortunately, matters of the heart are only part of the problem, because in those times of war, the threat of enemy spies is constant. And if the truth isn’t discovered, the innocent will take the blame, and relationships will be forever ruined.

            Mystery. Espionage. Intrigue. Romance. Doubt. Faith. If you enjoy stories containing any of those things, this is a book which I would recommend to you. This Christian historical fiction novel is intelligently written with a focused plot, descriptive characters and a fast pace. The author has clearly done her research. I think it is clever that Jack’s stance as a conscientious objector is a ruse, for it still propels his character to help his country. I was captivated by this novel and know I’ve found another author whose books I’d like to keep reading. It has a good message for us as well: Walk by faith and not by sight. In the spiritual sense, yes, but also in the literal, seeing-with-your-eyes sense. We take for granted that which we have, not realizing what we’re missing until it’s too late. Keep the faith, give thanks for what you have, and try not to take anything for granted.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly 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.”