The United States is fully engaged in World War II as Lieutenant Daniel Avery’s and Quintessa Beaumont’s story gets underway in the third installment of the Waves of Freedom series. Their story is driven by the strength of their character as well as their character flaws. A major theme in the book alerts readers to the danger of judging people by outward appearances and using those judgements to predict their motivations and desires. The lesson here goes far beyond the old adage of not judging a book by its cover, and touches tender places within the heart. We are reminded as well of the value of leaving vengeance to the Lord, choosing rather to take the high road, surrendering to God’s sovereignty. While all of this may make this book sound preachy; far from it, Sundin offers her readers action on land and at sea, mystery, spies, and romance. Fully entertaining, but not mindless entertainment.
Daniel Avery is brother to Jim and Lillian from previous books in this series. Quintessa is best friend to Mary, the Nancy Drew of book one. Readers will enjoy encountering these and other friends and family members again. They will also appreciate Sarah Sundin’s continued portrayal of actual historic events within the context of the story. Her attention to accurate detail makes her books come alive. When Tides Turn places the reader alongside Daniel during battles at sea and celebrates the 1942 establishment and success of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) as Quintessa, now known as Tess, finds a sense of purpose in serving her country.
I thank the publisher for making When Tides Turn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Sarah Sundin never disappoints me. Her detailed setting and research are fantastic. This was a well written story about WW 2 but for me, the connection between the two main characters did not resonate with me. I thought Tess was way to self centered in almost an opposite way than usual; she was so worried that she would not be taken seriously because she was so pretty. Too much was made over her 'beauty'. The story had a good pace and kept me interested. Recommended.

Another exciting World War Two story by this wonderful author! This third book in the Waves of Freedom series is set mainly in Boston from mid-1942 to 1943, coupled with plenty of action in the Atlantic and beyond, as the naval battles escalated. It was easy to read as a stand alone, picking up where the other books left off, with some returning characters.

Love how this author's books are so well-researched, giving just enough information to make it interesting and visualize the scenes, but never boring! She does a stellar job of putting a face on the war, making it feel personal. As the main couple's friendship grew, and they struggled with their career goals, tense work situations and other concerns, it pulled me into the story. The battle scenes and espionage were quite exciting, and the romance was fun, as they danced around each other trying to keep it light.

Tess' character was a perfect foil to Dan's--the color to his black and white--a heroine in her own right, trying to be useful and putting up with a lot to achieve her own goals. His stoic life was crying out for her playful, understanding friendship, giving him a new perspective on balancing work and play especially. Loved the use of the old hymn, Jesus, Pilot Me, so perfect for their situation. It was interesting learning about the WAVES, as well as the impact of radar and sonar in bringing victory at sea. An index for the many technical terms would be a handy reference.

Highly recommend to anyone interested in WW2, and especially historical Christian romance fans!

(An e-copy was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)

When Tides Turn is book three from the Waves of Freedom series. I enjoyed this book and getting a glimpse of the WAVES during WWII. I personally was excited to read the parts set in Northern Ireland, where my grandparents met and married my American grandfather was stationed there. This is my favorite of the series.
5 stars.

ANOTHER WONDERFUL READ!

I've always enjoyed reading books related to WWII and The Greatest Generation. When Tides Turn (Waves of Freedom Book 3) is another great addition fans of Sundin have come to expect. Her writing is crisp, factual and descriptive and her characters are full of depth, frailty, compassion, love and realism. She makes you, as a reader, feel as though you are a part of the story. When Tides Turn is Quintessa Beaumont & Lt. Dan Avery's story. Quintessa decides to reach into herself and prove she is more than a "pretty face" by joining the newly formed WAVES. She is promptly assigned to the Boston Navy Yard to work in the ASWU under the command of longtime friend Lt. Dan Avery, a no-nonsense Navy man with aspirations of becoming an Admiral. He is biding his time at a desk job until he can get back out to sea. What follows is a tale of War Bond sales, tests of friendship, international intrigue and rogue spies, cutting edge developments in Naval anti-submarine warfare and the possibility of lifetime love. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this opinion is strictly my own and without influence.

After a few disappointments in love, the glamorous and always popular Quintessa Beaumont decides she needs a change. She leaves her department store sales job, starts going by the name "Tess," and joins the Navy's new WAVES program. Lt. Dan Avery is determined to make Admiral one day, and doesn't have the time for distractions of any kind. When the fun-loving Tess and straight-laced Dan find themselves working in the same office, sparks fly despite their best efforts t act otherwise. Will Tess be able to prove to Dan-- and herself-- that she's more than a pretty face? Will Dan realize that the rest and fun that Tessa brings to his life is a blessing and not a distraction?

Sarah Sundin brings her Waves of Freedom series to a lovely and exciting conclusion in When Tides Turn. Though I'm a devoted fan of Sundin's work, I'll admit to being a bit skeptical before starting this particular novel. From previous installments, I'd honestly never been terribly fond of Quintessa or Dan. A self-centered and overly beautiful blonde, and an uptight, career-obsessed sailor? Not my first choice for relatable protagonists. With a truly talented bit of storytelling and character development, though, Sundin proves me absolutely wrong.

The growth experienced both characters is both convicting and engaging, and I enjoyed every page of their love story. The historical context of the series from a Naval and home front perspective continues to prove compelling, and the twists and turns of other sub-plots kept me guessing until the very end as well. As with Sundin's previous series, all three installments of Waves of Freedom are well-researched, beautifully written, and well worth the time.

Sarah Sundin is my go-to author when it comes to World War II fiction. She writes with such clarity and research that I adore all her stories. When people have approached me with recommendations for books, which happens often, I always recommend her books. With a wonderful cast of characters and a setting that stays with me, I highly recommend her books for fans of any books.

Sundin always amazes me with how much research she does, and the final result is a great story that does not read like a researched novel. Everytime I read a Sundin novel, I feel like I'm living in the 1940's and traveling with the characters as they struggle through the changes of the world. Sundin brings Boston in the 1940's to life for me. I feel the motion of the ocean underneath my feet and hear the sound of the music playing as the individuals dance the night away at a local club.

I have really enjoyed spending time with the Avery family in the Waves of Freedom series. First, learning about Jim Avery and his love, Mary; then moving onto Lillian Avery and Arch; and finally, having the privilege of watching Dan Avery remove his walls to allow love to come in through Tessa. Tessa is generous, cheerful person who makes others feel better about themselves. When Tessa appears on the screen, she is tired of being seen as a beautiful face who is nothing less. Joining the WAVES, Tessa uses her skills to bring meaning to her life. She changes from a girl who wants to make a change to the woman who does make a change. As for Dan Avery, it was finally nice to learn more about him as Sundin allowed him to share his story. He begins the story as a rock-steady, no nonsense type of guy who won't allow love distract him from his goals at achieving a higher rank in the Navy. By the end of the novel, he realizes he should allow love in and opens up to a lasting relationship with Tessa. Their romance was sweet and made me smile.

The pace of the novel moved great. My only complaint about the plot is that the novel ended before I was ready for it to end. I wanted a longer novel. But that is what a great novelist should do. In When Tides Turn, Sundin threw in another mysery with the possiblitity of a spy. The tension was high and kept me flipping through the story. I was glued to the plot as well as the romance between Dan and Tessa.
I really can't find anything awful to say about Sundin's books. I recommend them all the time to people and can't wait until she has another book come out. She's writing another series about Normandy, and I'm excited already. Go buy the book. Sundin will not disappoint.

I received a complimentary copy of When Tides Turn from Revell Publishing, and the opinions stated are all my own.

This is book three in the series, and I had already read (and loved!) the first two books, but they are definitely able to be read as stand-alone books, too. Wrapping up the series, we have Tess fighting to find her identity as a 'practical' woman in the war. There is a romance, with the last brother from the same family which weaves through the entire series, but it's only part of the story. The heart of the story lies with the mystery that Tess is trying to solve. I'm not giving anything away, but it's not something that you'll be able to solve immediately either... The author has done an immense amount of research, and she skillfully weaves that into the story, bringing you both a novel and a history lesson all wrapped up in one!

Sarah Sundin does it again! With charming characters, breath-stealing action, and riveting historical detail, Sundin brings her Waves of Freedom series to a close with a wartime mystery and romance that will leave readers smiling, cheering, and eagerly anticipating her next series. Highly recommend!