Review + Spotlight Post: Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

January 31, 2023

Review + Spotlight Post: Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

by Roseanna M. White

About the Book

In two world wars, intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations.

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same –until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the great war rock Evie and Sterling’s lives in World War II, it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

My Thoughts

Beloved author Roseanna M. White returns with a heart-rending story of war, love, and loss spanning decades.

When one considers the close proximity in which the two world wars took place, it is only logical that lives would have been deeply impacted by both conflicts. This idea is played out blatantly throughout Yesterday’s Tides. In this work of historical fiction, we are offered dual timelines on the becoming island of Ocracoke in the outer banks of North Carolina. We see not only the effects both wars had on the lives of those living on the island, but the effects of the different ideas held by society in each era. Themes of racial inequality as well as the oppression of women are portrayed through Louisa in the WWI timeline. Her romance with Rem is a sweeping whirlwind, though it comes with seemingly insurmountable challenges. It is heart-rending to read of her separation from Rem, the two divided by ignorance. Yet Louisa proves a strong heroine that is as charming and intelligent as she is beautiful, making her a delight to read about. And in the WWII timeline, Evie carries on her mother’s legacy as she runs the inn. A woman of strong faith with a big heart, she is so caring of everyone that she comes into contact with. Her habit of collecting sea glass as a reminder of prayer is endearing. And while it takes a backseat to the unraveling of family secrets, Evie’s romance with Sterling is enchanting, as well.

Long-time readers of White will relish all the threads of her past stories woven into this book. Myriad characters from her prior series make appearances in Yesterday’s Tides, providing a plethora of fun little Easter eggs for readers to look for as the story unravels. We’re also introduced to a new cast of varied and complex characters in the pages of this book. Generations of Louisa and Evie’s family make appearances throughout, adding depth to this richly layered story.

Ocracoke Island is a character itself in the book. The enchanting setting with its mysterious nooks and crannies creates the perfect backdrop for a story of war and romance and family secrets.

Fans of historical fiction won’t want to miss this mysterious, endearing, and tenderly told family saga. Highly recommended!

All opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to Roseanna M. White and Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book.

MY REVIEW OF SHADOWED LOYALTY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com

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