Member Reviews

“Are you going to ask? Or wait for answers to materialize in the background?”
His lips quirked up. “I’m puzzling it all out. I’ll have you all sorted out in another day or two, Evie Farrow.” -Yesterday’s Tides

This whole novel was quite the fascinating puzzle to be worked out - trying to figure out characters and situations between Yesterday’s timeline and Today’s. This quote was so appropriate, as I nodded along and said “I’m with you, Sterling. Let’s puzzle this out together.” I think that was actually my favorite aspect of this story: the mystery and intrigue.

We follow four main characters (two couples) - Evie and Sterling during WWII, and Rem and Louisa during WWI - both centered on the island of Ocracoke, and including other locations as well, from America to England to France. The title really captures the essence of living during such turbulent and uncertain times.

The women of the story are tough and resilient; Evie with her caring nature and determination to look out for those around her, and Louisa with her stepping forward to do what was necessary when there was no one else to turn to. Yet it didn’t detract from their femininity - and I could see why their men loved them so much for that inspiring balance.

I held my breath though many scenes, aching and hoping and wondering as the agony and horrors of war threatened nations, families, and tender loving hearts.

I especially loved how this story brings in and connects characters from other stories! I recognized The Culper Ring, Codebreakers, and a very brief mention of The Secrets of the Isles. What fun!!

This is a clean read with some romance and mild violence. Content includes soldier cruelty and sexual abuse/assault - mentioned in conversation but not shown.

I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Roseanna White's first split-time fiction did not disappoint. As you'd expect from this author, her writing flowed seamlessly from one timeline to the next, weaving both time periods together, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.

I connected a bit more with the WWI timeline characters than the WWII characters, and I was confused in a few places, but those instances are minor when compared with the overall beauty of this story. I appreciate every mention of God and spiritual matters, as well as the inclusion of a deaf character and the use of ASL. We need more stories with characters like these who are portrayed with strength and dignity.

I highly recommend this read for those who enjoy Christian Historical or Split-time fiction.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Rating 4.5

I love everything I read by Roseanna M White, and this story just proved again why. There was a mystery or two to solve, a villain or two which impacted the lives of the characters and well-loved characters from prior series makes an appearance.

This was the first dual-time story this author has written, and she executed it perfectly. Through Louisa and Evie, I was taken from the initial stages of the Great War to WW2, from falling in love to heartache and seeing the impact of both wars.

The author’s descriptive way with words grabbed my attention from the very first sentence. The author made me love a romance, dislike a supporting character through shocking disclosures and made me wish for happily ever after.

And I enjoyed linking the present time with the past before the author revealed the events in the timeline of Yesterday.

Fans of Roseanna M White will not be disappointed, and if you still need to read any of her works, this will be a great book to pick up.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book. I generally like Roseanna White’s novels and Yesterday’s Tides did not disappoint.

The way the author wove together multiple generations and cultural challenges was superbly done. Layers upon layers of thought and emotion, rejection and acceptance, challenge and triumph, past and present gave the story richness without bogging it down. I also enjoyed the way the story touched on Roseanna’s previously novels. If you haven’t read any of them you won’t miss anything, but if you have read them then there are delightful connections that will catch your attention throughout.

There were some adult themes regarding women under oppression, both in slavery and in war, included in the book. They were very carefully presented, but still present. I was actually extremely moved by the way redemption wove into this tale and impressed by the author’s ability to navigate sensitive subjects with honesty, compassion and hope.

Yesterday’s Tides pulls together a variety of stories from across time and weaves them into a seamless and captivating tale. This books gets five stars.

This was a great book. I generally like Roseanna White’s novels and Yesterday’s Tides did not disappoint.

The way the author wove together multiple generations and cultural challenges was superbly done. Layers upon layers of thought and emotion, rejection and acceptance, challenge and triumph, past and present gave the story richness without bogging it down. I also enjoyed the way the story touched on Roseanna’s previously novels. If you haven’t read any of them you won’t miss anything, but if you have read them then there are delightful connections that will catch your attention throughout.

There were some adult themes regarding women under oppression, both in slavery and in war, included in the book. They were very carefully presented, but still present. I was actually extremely moved by the way redemption wove into this tale and impressed by the author’s ability to navigate sensitive subjects with honesty, compassion and hope.

Yesterday’s Tides pulls together a variety of stories from across time and weaves them into a seamless and captivating tale. This books gets five stars.

I was provided with a free, unedited, digital copy of this novel with the understanding that I would share my honest opinion with my readers. I do recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

Fans of Roseanna M. White’s books will be absolutely thrilled that she has written a story that links all of her bookish worlds! Yesterday’s Tides is a time slip between the two World Wars, but it connects readers to characters as far back as the American Revolution. So many stories are told in these pages, so it was especially fun to see those familiar faces. I do wish there were an epilogue to neatly tie all the stories together, but I promise readers that the book doesn’t feel incomplete. I hope White continues to include these characters in her future novels, because we all love them so much! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

What war separates takes time to bring back together.

This book earns a 5* rating when one considers the intricate intertwining of the two timelines and the vast difference in character personalities spread throughout the storylines. The beautiful, emotional writing makes this book a gem among historical romances.

Two wars, two generations, two worlds away…Glimpses of 1942 are carefully slipped into the “yesterday’s” (1914) storyline, pushing the reader toward trying to figure out how these timelines meet. Clues were laid out bit by bit, with perfect pacing, until the threads come together.

If you are a reader of White’s previous books, some of her beloved characters are snuck in to round out the story and give a nod to her readers.

Themes: God’s Providence, prayer, racial barriers and love in the midst of obstacles

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

Was this review helpful?

Wow. Where do I even begin with this story?! I absolutely loved it...and hated it at times (if you read it, you will immediately know the parts I am talking about!). Roseanna M. White books are an auto buy for me. I love the way she can craft a story to draw me in and make me feel part of history, whether its the days surrounding Jesus's death and resurrection, part of a spy ring during the Civil War, searching for treasure in the British Isles or surviving either of the World Wars.
In Yesterday's Tides, Evie Farrow helps run the Ocracoke Inn during World War II when she stumbles across an injured man washed ashore. Sterling Bertrand is a British spy who was sent to track a German officer somewhere along North Carolina's Outer Banks. As he recovers from his injuries, he gets to know Evie and learns that her secrets can help him with his case.
Three decades earlier during World War I, Louisa Adair helped her family run the Ocracoke Inn. Remington Culbreth, a wealthy English man vacationing in North Carolina, meets Louisa, falls in love and marries her. He is called back to Great Britain to help fight in the war and the two must overcome almost insurmountable obstacles to find each other again.
Yesterday's Tides is White's first foray into a dual timeline. I didn't know what to expect because I love her full length novels so much. However I should have known that she would weave the two timelines together seamlessly and in such a way that I wanted to linger in each one. I absolutely loved this book! I would recommend it to anyone who loves history, WWI, WWII, dual timeline, romance, or just a really well-written story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

"Because she'd always known that 'safety' was an illusion. And 'steady' too often meant stagnant. Neither was what brought life, with all its abundant, chaotic beauty."

Absolutely stunning dual timeline historical fiction. Once again, Roseanna M White masterfully and beautifully combines history, intrigue, romance, and faith to weave an unforgettable tale of secrets, loss, grief, strength, and love. The setting of Ocracoke Island is lovely and the plot that takes us from the Outer Banks to England to France is riveting.

Louisa and Rem from WWI stole my heart completely from the beginning. Their romance and steadfast love were delightful and heartbreaking at the same time. Evie and Sterling from WWII took their time to get to know each other and I truly enjoyed that journey. There were plenty of gasp-worthy surprises and plot twists to keep the book moving at a good pace. Revisiting Room 40 from The Codebreakers series was quite fun, as was cameo appearances by characters from the author's other books.

It's a must read for all historical fiction lovers. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

What an amazing job White does in combining dual timelines during World War 1 and World War II in her first dual timeline novel. It's 1942 on Ocracoke Island and Evie Farrow's daily life is very repetitive until Sterling Bertrand washes ashore and is taken to to Evie's Inn to recover from his serious burns. Little does Evie know that Sterling is military and is tracking a supposed German spy who may be on the island. As Sterling and Evie work to track down the spy, their steps take them back in history to World War 1 connections to Evie's family.

As always, White's extensive research on both wars brings this read to life. Each of the timelines was easy to follow, and it was interesting to see the roles that some of the characters played in both World War I and then again in World War II. White is definitely a wordsmith as the story develops so beautifully and keeps the reader entranced. One of my favorite things in this book was that characters spoke many languages including American Sign Langauge.

This is one book that readers won't want to miss.

Favorite Quote:
“How sometimes, when it feels like the wind and the water are stealing those prayers, we can anchor them to something in our thoughts, as a reminder that no one and nothing can really snatch them away.”

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Was this review helpful?

Roseanna white has become one of my favorite authors over the last few years.
I love how poetic her writing is and how she weaves everything together. And all of the historical details are one of my favorite aspects! I love learning about history and I can always count on that from her books. I can’t decide whose story I liked better, Rems and Louisa or Sterling and Evie!!
This book definitely kept me on my toes!! There was a point where I thought I had everything figured out but then there’d be a plot twist and it completely through me off!
I loved the cameos! Some of my favorite characters were mentioned in this book!! This might be one of my new favorite books by her!
That title!! I love how it fits into the story. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!!!
I received a complementary of this book from the author and Bethany House, I was not required to give a positive review.

Was this review helpful?

I’m not time-slip fiction’s biggest fan. At best, they usually drive me nuts during the switch in storylines, with me wishing I was still in one or the other. I don’t usually pick them up. But when I saw Roseanna White was writing one, I knew I’d be giving it a shot. I was even more intrigued when I learned it didn’t have the typical historical and contemporary timelines, but instead just a generation apart, set in both WWI and WWII.

This is the BEST time-slip book I’ve ever read. So hear me, even if you don’t love time-slip but you love historical fiction, it’s a winner. The switches between storylines were actually more switches between timelines. They didn’t just connect at the end- they connected right from the start.

With the same characters in both timelines, White cleverly makes the mystery of figuring out who is who (with the same person going by a different variation of their name in the other generation) one of the driving forces that actually made me want to switch between the timelines. I was so invested in putting the pieces together it felt like one entire story instead of two connected. Both couples- Evie and Sterling, and Rem and Louisa felt so real and complex. I think that also contributed to how much I enjoyed each timeline. I truly loved watching this character puzzle come together throughout the book. It’s even worth a reread before a lot of detail is forgotten, simply to see what was missed in the beginning before having the knowledge you had by the end.

Yesterday’s Tides is completely recommended and so well done!! I love White’s books, and this is no exception, even though it’s a little different. If you’re a long-time Roseanna White fan, there are nuggets throughout in this book referencing her previous characters and series, like a treat for her long-time readers. But no worries if you haven’t read them- but it just might make you want to!

I received a complementary copy of this novel from the publisher and was not asked to leave a positive review. All of my opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Received for review: I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review, nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? I have enjoyed books by Roseanna M. White in the past, and I have been loving the nonfiction I’ve read from WWII, so I was excited to give this a shot.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I really enjoyed this one. White is a great writer. I particularly loved the WWI timeline. As I noted below, the author handled the dual timeline really well. The “villain” from Louisa and Rem’s past was infuriating. Like it made me so mad like others have said. I didn’t have a hard time believing it, unlike some others, however. But it was infuriating. It was hard to read. I also wish that Sterling and Evie’s romance and also Sterling’s character were more developed.

Major Strengths I really enjoyed Louisa and Rem’s characters in particular. They were really fleshed out. I also enjoyed White’s writing style. I enjoyed the mystery. I think dual timelines can be overdone and hard to do well, but White did a great job handling the dual timeline.

Major Weaknesses Evie and Sterling’s plotline and the conclusion seemed a bit rushed. Things started coming together quickly, but we didn’t see them really come to fruition. I also thought that there needed to be an epilogue or something to kind of tie the ending together.

So why 3.5 stars? It stood out amongst others in the genre. If Sterling had been more developed, this would be a 4. But I recommend it, I really liked it.

Love,

Danica Page

Note: I will post on Amazon when I can. I will also post on my blog.

Was this review helpful?

“They’d become part of the earth. Part of the people. Part of the story they’d all tell. The yesterday whose tides would carve tomorrow.”

Yesterday’s Tides may just be my favorite Roseanna M. White book yet! This story completely drew me in from the first page. I was delighted to find not only two compelling stories, but a love letter to all of her previous series. There are so many Easter eggs which reference her previous books and I loved finding them. But, don’t worry, if you haven’t read her previous series, this story is completely a standalone and will make you want to go back and read all her other books.

It’s a dual time period novel covering both WWI and WWII with mystery, intrigue, suspense, and romance as well as endearing characters you’ll fall in love with. Each story deals with betrayal, prejudice, and loss. There are several villains in the story who are down right evil. I found myself reading late into the night to find out what happens next. I may have stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish because I just couldn’t put it down.

In 1942, Evie’s become comfortable in her daily routine. When disaster strikes and a handsome but injured Englishman washes up on her shore, her life suddenly has new purpose. Sterling is not just any Englishman, but a man on a mission searching for a German spy. But can he trust Evie? Who is she getting telegrams from on this isolated Ocracoke Island. Evie has experienced unspeakable loss. Though she’s attracted to the new visitor, is she ready to love again? How will her family’s past affect their future?

In 1914, Louisa’s life is filled with keeping their family’s inn going. She’s an intelligent, mechanically minded young woman who yearns to go to college. When a wealthy young Englishman comes to stay at the inn, she’s attracted to the thoughtful, kind young man. But, there are secrets about her heritage which threaten their new relationship. Will others’ prejudice and hatred tear them apart?

Both stories were amazing and I loved how they were connected. Along with the heartfelt romances are beautiful spiritual truths expertly woven into the story. It’s one of Roseanna M. White’s best and I’m so glad she finally got to tell this story. The location will have you googling to see photos as she really makes the small island of Ocracoke come alive. Highly recommended this five star read! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

Was this review helpful?

Written in dual-timeline fashion, the reader alternates between a World War I and World War II storyline, and it isn't until the end that we find out how they are connected. I had a difficult time getting into this book because everything was jumbled in my head -- I kept mixing up the timelines and the main characters from each -- but once that was straight, it became a very enjoyable story. Some sort of visual timeline with characters might be helpful for the reader to acclimate to the story. The author, however, does a great job of weaving together historic components, a variety of character backgrounds, and vivid descriptions of the setting, which all work to make this an intriguing read.

Was this review helpful?

<i>Yesterday’s Tides</i> is a riveting split-time! I was equally invested in both the storylines of the first and second world wars, and raced through the pages to find out what happened next. Then I’d think I had anticipated what was coming, only to find out I was wrong after all. An engrossing five-star read that brings together so many of Roseanna M. White’s characters!

Was this review helpful?

Yesterday's Tides is another fabulous read by Roseanna M White. It gives me an additional reason why she has become one of my go to authors. It was great going back in time to both World Wars at the beautiful North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island and meeting Evie, Sterling, Remington, and Louisa. I believe their story is my favorite I had read by this author to date. I was fascinated from start to finish. I loved it.

Yesterday's Tides will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction and time slip novels that gives an element of faith. As always, I am eagerly awaiting for new releases from Roseanna M White in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Yesterday's Tides from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Intrigue, family secrets, courage, hope, and love, are just some of the themes winding their way through Roseanna M. White’s latest novel “Yesterday’s Tides.” 27-year-old Evie Farrow works at the Ocracoke Inn on Ocracoke Island. World War II is raging over in Europe and is reaching into the waters off America’s East coast. It is common for those living on Ocracoke to hear explosions far out at sea in the area known as “Torpedo Junction.” What Evie did not expect was for a survivor of an explosion, to wash up on the shores of her island. Severely burned and injured, Evie does her best to take care of the man who mumbles in his pain ridden state, German names, places, and other things Evie is sure she is not supposed to hear. Who is this man? What secrets is he hiding? Can Evie keep him safe? British agent, Sterling Bertrand, has spent years trying to hunt down German agent Gustav Mansfeld. He tracks him to the Outer Banks, but when the unthinkable happens at sea, he is left at the mercy of his rescuer, Evie. Who is she? Why is she receiving coded messages from the Coast Guard Station? Because of his injured state, Sterling realizes that whatever secrets Evie is hiding, he must trust her if he is going to find the elusive Mansfeld. Will they be able to find the SS Officer, and if they do, will the secrets they uncover tear apart their blossoming relationship? Louisa Adair feels safe under the hood of an engine or with hammer in hand, fixing something around the inn. With dreams of becoming a teacher and leaving Ocracoke, Louisa distances herself from anyone who comes and stays at the inn. However, when Englishman Remington Culbreth shows up as a guest at the inn, Louisa is torn by her growing attraction to him and the dreams that are in her heart. How can they be together when they come from two different worlds? Louisa’s skin is darker than Remington’s, and that is an absolute no in Remington’s social sphere. Loyalty, perseverance, and the courage to do what is right dominate Louisa and Remington’s story. Everything they believe in and their love for each other will be put to the ultimate test. Roseanna has been able to take four different viewpoints from two different eras and weave them seamlessly together to create a beautifully captivating novel. The twists and turns kept me mesmerized to the very end. I will say that I was confused at first when starting to read this book. I kept getting the characters and their respective times in history, and relationship with each other, mixed up. However, as the story went along, everything became clear, and swept me away to another time and place. It was wonderful to see various characters from her other novels appear in this one! I look forward to more books by Ms. White. I received an ARC of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions within this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars for this engaging dual-time novel! It is a creatively crafted story which alternates between "Today" (WWII) and "Yesterday" (WWI), showing some of the characters in different times of their lives. "Today" focuses on the relationship of Evie and Sterling, who are a delightful pair, and Evie’s family and coastal community. The main characters of "Yesterday" are Louisa and Rem, my favorite two characters in the book. By the halfway point in the story, I was very invested in these character's lives -- cheering and smiling at the sweet moments, and fuming at the cruel manipulations they endured. I was also captivated by the intriguing mysteries to be solved in both time periods.

It was a bit of a challenge for me to keep track of some of the characters as their names were so similar (Grann, Grandma See, Grandma Ree). I expended too much mental energy trying to figure out the relationships and connections. I recommend just relaxing and reading the story; it will all make sense in the end. I look forward to reading it again and just enjoying the journey.

It was a special treat to have well-loved characters from the author's other books make appearances near the end. (I am not sure how it would be for someone who has not read all her books; would it feel like a lot of random characters were introduced in the last quarter of the book?) As I am a big fan of Roseanna White's writing, it worked for me, and hopefully readers will seek out her other novels as well as this one.

I received a copy of this story to review. This is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I adore Roseanna White's books and read them every chance I get! In Yesterday's Tides she brings together the beautiful location of Ocracoke Island, some characters from her previous series and two romances that stand the test of time. I so enjoyed reading about Evie and Louisa's love stories. The men who steal their hearts are strong and faithful. Roseanna does such an amazing job pulling from historical events and making you see them in your mind. I looked up Soundfront Inn and it was just like I pictured it too!

This was such a treat to read...it's a 5 star book for me!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. .All opinions are my own.

Publishes 24 January 2023.

Was this review helpful?

“ℋ𝓊𝓇𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓃ℯ𝓈 𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝒷ℯ𝓉𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝓌ℯ𝒶𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓇ℯ𝒹 𝓉ℴℊℯ𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉.”

It took me almost a full month to actually fully get into this book but once I truly started to read it, I was hooked! This story is absolutely amazing and oh so beautiful! I love how there were two stories in one and how well they flowed.

Sterling and Evie, two halves made whole, had such a great story. The discovery and growth along the way was beautiful ♥️

Rem and Louisa, both from very different worlds, did not let anything keep them apart, not even time itself. They were the perfect example of true love and it’s outcome ♥️

“𝒯𝒽ℯ𝓎’𝒹 𝒷ℯ𝒸ℴ𝓂ℯ 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒽. 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅ℯℴ𝓅𝓁ℯ. 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓎’𝒹 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉ℯ𝓁𝓁. 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝓎ℯ𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝓌𝒽ℴ𝓈ℯ 𝓉𝒾𝒹ℯ𝓈 𝓌ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓋ℯ 𝓉ℴ𝓂ℴ𝓇𝓇ℴ𝓌.”

I loved how this book combined so many of Roseanna M White’s other stories! It was fun to see so many characters again and meet new ones along the way. This is a definite must read for any RMW fans out there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the honor of reading this book before the release date. All opinions listed are purely my own.

Was this review helpful?