It was fine. I truly wanted a book about pirates that felt like Pirates of the Caribbean but this didn't really. It was a fun adventure and romance which I enjoyed, as well as the historical context since I'm always a fan of historical fiction. Now it didn't really have that feeling of a great book nor a great adventure and ultimately, I was a bit disappointed.

Thanks NetGalley and Kensington for the free eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

Quick history reminder: the Golden Age of Piracy and the Salem Witch Trials more or less overlap, so when headstrong weaver Maria Brown decides to learn to swim on Cape Cod, and her path crosses with unemployed young sailor Sam Bellamy, it's not just forbidden love they find.

Both are rebellious, unable to stomach the societal norms of the Puritan colonies, and after her parents reject him as a suitor, Sam heads offshore in search of a fortune. Meanwhile Maria carries the consequence of their actions, marries unhappily, and is banished from Eastham, Massachusetts. The two survive many adventures apart before being thrown back together by the strange twists of fate.

Based on the author's speculations about actual 18th C figures, this is a book for fans of historical romance.

I respect the research, but ultimately, I didn't feel transported to 18th C Massachusetts.

This novel reads like a historical fiction romance. Maria is a stubborn, strong-willed young woman trying to navigate her way through her family and societal expectations in 1700 Eastham, Mass. Samuel Bellamy is a poor cabin boy with wild dreams and aspirations well beyond his class. Sam and Maria meet on a dock one day via dangerous circumstances. It was love at first sight from that day forward. I had some Romeo and Juliet vibes from this one! I found the characters to be likable and engaging most of the time. I was more interested in Maria’s character growth and development than Sam’s at times. Her strength and determination really drew me in. I loved that these characters were real people! Knowing that Samuel Bellamy and Maria Brown were real star-crossed lovers made the story even more intriguing. The author did a wonderful job intertwining the myth and folklore of Sam and Maria into the fiction of the novel.

Interesting read with great characters and a good storyline.

I just reviewed If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert. #IftheTideTurns #NetGalley

If men think about the Roman Empire a lot I think that many women (myself included) often think about the Golden Age of Piracy and/or the Salem witch trials, and of course the mentions of these two historical events draw me into requesting this book. I’m sad to say, however, I don’t think it was that interesting.

Two points of view in Samuel Bellamy and Maria Brown who meet by chance and fall in love. It was quite sweet, I suppose, but 25% of the book was him teaching her how to swim? Felt a bit like that time could be used for something else. But who am I to judge – I’m not a published author.

Setting was interesting. Characters were not.

Review below is posted on goodreads.

I got the arc for review on netgally.
This was one of the kind of books I could see other people really enjoying it but it didn't work out for me. It had characters, plot and a romance that I didn't know would end in tragedy or joy. Maybe I wasn't in the right mindset.

In the 18th century Maria and Sam fall in love and have to fight against the established norms of the time. In search of a better destiny, Sam ends up joining the pirates and Maria can only abide by what her family and society imposes on her.
A novel that is a cross between historical fiction and romance where, in my opinion, the female character stands out as she endures the unspeakable to stay true to her convictions.
The story is narrated alternating chapters between the two characters and at some point I have not felt so hooked to the part dedicated to Sam. Connecting historical and fictional characters the novel gives reality to the parts imagined by the author.
Nevertheless, it is an entertaining novel, well developed and with interesting characters.