“2.5 stars — gentle coastal vibes, but a little too slow to catch the current.”

Tides of Change had all the makings of a cozy, heartfelt story—small-town charm, seaside scenery, and a woman trying to start fresh after major life changes. The setting is lovely, and the themes of reinvention and resilience are meaningful… but the execution felt a bit underwhelming.

The pacing was slow, the characters didn’t fully come to life for me, and the plot often drifted without really pulling me in. I kept waiting for something to happen—but most of the time, it felt like watching waves roll in without much movement beneath the surface.

That said, it’s a gentle, easy read that might appeal more to readers who love a super slow-burn, character-driven story with minimal drama and lots of atmosphere. For me, though, it just didn’t leave a strong enough impression to make it memorable.

this was a really interesting read, I loved the time period and that there was not only romance but friendship in the book. It was a great read and I really enjoyed reading this.

Interesting historical fiction title set in Scottland when the Jacobite cause is simmering towards a tipping point.

I appreciated the blend of history of the area as well as the medical establishment focus.

You can tell that the author has a love of Edinburgh's history.

Joan Dunnett's Tides of Change is an interesting novel, set in the years leading up to the Jacobite rebellion in Scotland. The novel's central character, James Lightfoot, is returning to Edinburgh after serving a time as a ship's surgeon. He's ready to continue his studies, to attend medical school in Leiden, and become a physician—but first he has to deliver a coded message from his ship's captain to a long-ago friend, someone James hasn't seen in years. Thus, he becomes involved in the planning of the Jacobite rebellion. James has no interest in politics, but disinterest isn't enough to prevent both sides treating him as a possible threat. Then, there are merchants, both scrupulous and otherwise, and schemers of a non-political sort.

I didn't know much about this historical period and, while I'm still no expert, I was able to follow the novel's plot and to understand the concerns of the different sides involved. The fact that James understands only parts of the situation he finds himself in helps—as readers sharing his naivete will feel no more unsure than he does.

I'd been thinking of this novel as a "mystery" before I began reading, but really it's a historical-political thriller. It covers several years, jumping forward suddenly at time, but Dunnett keeps the narrative clear.

I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.