The Tides of Time
Storm Tide #1
By Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
In 1793, a storm propels Lili
forward through time, kindling a love that transcends the ages.
Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili
Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous
flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship
and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world
of 1873 England.
When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea,
he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though
he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of
him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to
her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea,
can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals
from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to
offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two.
Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all
those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must
navigate the challenges of a love that defies the boundaries of time and the
perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds
gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—whether their bond is strong
enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love.
My thoughts:
Time travel gives me a headache. There are so many opportunities for paradoxes. It’s been a staple of science fiction for decades.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this “time slip” novel.
Imagine being abruptly placed 80 years into the future, where you don’t understand how things work. Magnify that by ending up in a new country, with a new language, as well.
That is the situation Lili finds herself in after bravely trying to help aristocrats escape from the violence of the French Revolution. Rescued by quiet lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce, at first she believes that all the strange things around her are the result of being in England rather than France.
But the water off Loftstone Island is known for its sudden storms, and the flashes of green lightning that open the door to other times.
Lili is drawn to Armitage’s quiet patience as she learns to navigate in this new place and time, and as they both slowly figure out what happened. The problem is, Lili isn’t the only one for whom a portal in time opened. Her brother and enemy, Geraud, has also arrived at Loftstone, and is determined to take her back for retribution.
The resolution of the story is well-done, although it stretches belief just a little bit that random portals in time could put all of the important players exactly when they need to be. Clearly, there is some power behind it all.
As with anything by Sarah M. Eden, the time and place are meticulously researched and the characters, whether major or minor, ring true.
Possible objectionable material:
Kissing. Mild violence. Time travel. Mention of people being sent to the guillotine.
Who might like this book:
Those interested in time travel or the French Revolution. Those who like historical romance in general.
Thank you to the publisher and
NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Echoes of the Sea
Storm Tide #2
By Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
For Kipling Summerfield, the
glamour of Hollywood is becoming a distant memory. After losing the role of a
lifetime, he’s forced to take a lesser job as a historical reenactor on
England’s Guilford Island. But a sudden storm changes everything, casting him
into the ocean—and into the care of a mysterious lighthouse keeper. Kip assumes
everyone he meets and the island’s historical setting are just an elaborate
performance—until he meets the captivating Amelia Archibald, whose quiet
strength feels too real, making him question everything about Guilford.
Amelia has spent her life as an unimportant poor relation and is now trapped by
her late grandfather’s will on an island she loathes because of her great fear
of the sea. When Kip stumbles into her world, his strange ideas and warm
presence are both a disruption and an unexpected light.
As Kip and Amelia work to save Guilford Island, an undeniable connection blooms
between them. But when Kip uncovers the truth about where—or when—he is, he
must make an impossible choice: rise to meet the expectations of Amelia’s world
and build a life worthy of her station or walk away from the love that has
redefined his very existence.
This time it’s modern-day American
ex-pat actor Kipling Summerfield who is taken by the waters near Loftstone
Island. The irony is that he’s expecting to work for the summer at a historical
reenactment site. He things they take historical accuracy super seriously, so
it takes a while for him to realize what has actually happened. Seeing the
locals—who know what may happen there—watch him and think he’s an idiot for not
getting it is kind of fun.
Minor violence. Kissing. Some
threats.
Historical romance fans and those
who can suspend disbelief and wrap their minds around time travel.
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