In the book If The Tide Turns by Rachel Ruecker narrated by Pilar Witherspoon. We meet Maria and her sister Julia two girls growing up in a proper household in the 18th century her father is a well-known businessman. Julia and Maria Love to sneak away to the New England coast because Maria wants to learn how to swim. It is on one of these excursions when British Navy men soon to turn pirate seas Maria jump off a wharf in thinker drowning it is after he drags her out of the water that he realizes his blunder and promises to teach her how to swim. Needless to say they soon fall in love but life doesn’t go as planned as a matter of a fact there’s lots of badtimes long before good ones or even glanced ahead in the distance. I wanted so much to love this book 1st off this is the fourth fiction book I have read will a girl in the 18 or 1700s wanted to learn how to swim and I don’t know how you can be a historical fiction writer and not know it was superstitious for women to know how to swim yet authors continue to persist and put it in their books. The next thing is this says it is based on real people and that is true there was a pirate named Sam Bellamy but everything else in this book is made up except that he was a pirate he was previously in the Navy ATC now as far as the fiction story goes I found the girls 21st attitude and her want for freedom something that wasn’t even in the nomenclature except in politics because that day and age women had no sense of autonomy let alone wanting her dreams to come true. Usually if a book is good then I just overlook any flaw in a book but I know if I am catching on to everyone and feeling incredulous about the authors decision it was only because my left brain has too much time to think while my right brain is reading having said that if she would have written the book about Joe Smith and Jane though I probably would’ve given it four stars because she claims it to be about and based on real people does everything but what historical fact decrees I gave it three stars in most of that is due to the awesome narration and perfect voice for the genre by pilar Witherspoon I do want to say if you Love historical fiction for historical fiction and romances sake then you may love this book because it is definitely fiction and certainly has a Romance. I want to thank RB media and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Golden Age of Piracy. Salem Witch Trials.

High seas pirate king Samuel Bellamy is bewitched with beautiful and strong-willed Maria Brown. This novel sang to me of social justice and how badly two entwined fates can get so brutally twisted awry from one another.

Wealthy families and disloyal mothers. Sea ports and ships and gossiping wives tales. A forced marriage with an old horrible man because a beautiful soul grows within the womb of a heartsick woman, close to being disowned by parents embarrassed by her love.

A sister who refuses to give up. Whipping and breathless babes. A deceitful, lying letter. Raging waves, stealing the lives that are thrown overboard a ship of a man who left his heart behind. Storms rage on whilst a jilted lover bears the pain of lives lost and the sting of torture marrs her backside.

The power of faith and the power of love keeps a strong woman alive in a cold bitter world content to excommunicate her. A surprising alliance and friendship saves her, unwilling to leave her struggling and gives her purpose, rather than just surviving.

The will of Maria gripped me and I could not look away from this book for a moment. Her tenacity and unwillingness to give up, how she kept going inspired me in my daily life. She is a survivor, with or without the man she swore to never give up on, even when the world stopped at nothing to convince her of his absence.

This is a difficult book to read, with the loss and the tragedy and the torture. It was hard to read, though I am glad I did. I recommend readers finish this book at least once. It is inspiring and encouraging, despite the darkness the world insists upon us as humans. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

This was a story with very relatable characters, who long for adventure and the life of their dreams or just more than what society/ money will allow them.
Sam had an exciting story line but I also loved to see how even though his character changed with his experiences, there were still principles or things that he clung to and never changed. Maria dealt with the strictures of society, but even through that she maintained her love and faith in Sam no matter how far he was. I felt the connection between the characters throughout the story and I think that’s what kept me so invested. They were each others end goal for all the trials they went through. It was heartbreaking, but the end made it all worth it.
The narrator did a great job in this audiobook. I liked the voice changes and thought it was easy to tell the difference between characters.

While it took a while to get into, overall I enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio version and thought the narrator was engaging. I found myself rooting for the characters and internally fought for them as they both literally and figuratively navigated their own waters (pun intended). A good story of love, personal growth and how the two are woven together.

"If the Tide Turns" by Rachel Ruekert is a very different historical fiction novel. It's set in New England in early 1700, not long after the Salem Witch trials. It's a pirate love story. Fans of historical fiction may like this one.

This story is about Samuel (Black) Bellamy, a famous pirate, and the woman he fell in love with, Mahidable (Mariah) Brown. It starts with Mariah's life, and then after she meets Sam, who saves her from drowning, the chapters alternate points of view from Mariah to Sam. Mariah has a very difficult life after Sam leaves. Sam is trying to get enough money to marry Mariah and ends up being repeatedly voted in as pirate ship captain. I'm not going to spoil the rest. I highly recommend this one!

This story about Samuel Bellamy is pretty accurate according to the Wikipedia article about the legendary pirate. Some accounts of his life do include a wife (thought to be a witch) and a son.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5 by Pilar Witherspoon
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 4.5/5, rounded up to 5

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Rachel Rueckert for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

My rating is about a 3.75 rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the gifted ALC of If the Tide Turns but Rachel Rueckert. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a bit of a slow start for me. I was bored for a little while but I think the story progressively gets better. I found that Maria and Samuel had such a magnetic pull between them. This book had so many interesting topics, pirates, witches, wild adventure. It really started to pick up for me about 40-50% through. However, despite the story being intriguing, I did not find myself excited to keep reading. I was content when reading but it wasn't a book I felt much connection to. I would find myself looking forward to chapter breaks at some points. There were a some heavy topics in this book. The audiobook narrator was lovely, I felt like she did a fantastic job.

Overall, the book was good. If you enjoy historical fiction and tales of pirates, I think you will enjoy this one.

This was so hard for me to get into at first but once it started going I kept coming back for more.. Maria Brown grew up in a house full of religion and high marital expectations. To tarnish the family name would be worst thing any daughter could do.
As a child Sam Bellamy grew up on a ship as a Captain Boy and was in the Kings Army as he grew. He met Maria and started to give her swim lessons. Of course that kindled a yearning in both of them. Sam asked Maria’s father for permission to marry her and of course he is not of station and was rejected. Sam vows to make a fortune and an honest woman out of Maria. He leaves to sail in search of his fortune one way or another.
Maria is married off to another and tragedy hits. Maria has to learn how to survive and live with the help of unexpected friends. This is a story of courage, strength and love that seems to last through the years. I enjoyed the read as an audiobook. I’m not sure if it would have the same effect if I were just reading it physically. It is a slow start and sometimes even slower moments throughout the book.

Maraya , the strong-willed farm girl who wanted to live reminds me of old me. Sam was a sailor who wanted more of his life at sea.
The narrators were fun . I cant wait for the world to enjoy this book like I did.

I’ve accidentally been reading a lot of books in the Pirate sub-genre and have found all of them refreshing and interesting. This one was particularly good thanks to its mix of privateering and strong female perspectives.

I was particularly impressed by how well the author showed the jarring and outrageous actions that were taken against indigenous people in the 1700s.
This was a much deeper story rife with discussion topics ranging from women’s rights, slavery, ancestral heritage, and even the forming of democracy on the open seas.

Thank you Recorded Books for the alc via Netgalley.

The well researched geographical settings of Cape Cod and the high seas, mixed with the way the parallel storylines drift together and diverge kept me deeply invested in the stories of Sam and Maria. The story stands whether or not you know the lore on which it is based, but will likely drive you into the historical realities and local fantasies if you don't! I will say no more as to not spoil the story if you don't know it because I imagine that may make it that much more a page turner for you.

This book reminded me of the princess bride. It had pirates and witches and tales from the high seas! It was cute and was a romance at its heart. I wouldn't have picked it up if I hadn't been sent a free copy. I'm glad I read this one, it was a light read and interesting. It wasn't one of my favorites but it was easy to get through.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me a free copy to read and review.

Book was pretty decent. Historical fiction isn’t really a favorite genre of mine but I still like to give it a chance as you just never know ◡̈. This book I did give it a fair chance and it wasn’t really for me. Got bored at some points. If you like historical fiction you’ll love this.

This book takes a look at piracy following the Salem Witch Trials and how two young lovers were torn apart.

My issue with this book is that it's just...a bummer for 85% of it. There are a ton of things that should have some major trigger warnings. I usually like historical fiction based on real characters but in this case for the audio, we don't get an authors note that really helped bring the story together for me.

I was glad to see Mariah grow up a bit and become independent but I honestly didn't care if Sam ever returned? Like he was fine I guess but I was much more invested in Mariah and her relationship with the indigenous woman who taught her how to forage etc.

I did like the narrator quite a bit, though I don't think her voice changed much between Mariah and Sam's speaking parts.

Thank you to RB Media for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rueckert, Rachel, If the Tide Turns. 11.34 hrs. Recorded Books, 2024.

Set in 1715 Massachusetts, Maria is set to marry John Hallet. Headstrong and feeling rebellious, Maria decides to learn how to swim. A pirate in disguise, Sam is drawn to justice and fortune. He meets Maria when he saves her from drowning. As the two get to know each other, Maria becomes pregnant. He asks her parents for her hand in marriage but gets turned down for lack of fortune. Determined to marry Maria, Sam sets off with his crew to find their fortune. Meanwhile, Maria’s mom discovers Maria’s pregnancy and rushes her marriage through before anyone notices. Will the two find a way to be together? Will true love prevail?

Narrator, Pilar Witherspoon is an engaging narrator that brings the time period and world of Maria and Sam to existence. Her distinct voices help to bring life to the well-rounded, likable characters. The world building is well-done and backed by research. Listeners who like historical adventure, romance, and piracy fiction will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Gr 10 and up.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

3.5 stars

An interesting historical novel about real people who fall in love and experience social pressure, dehumanizarion of women, injustice, false imprisonment and cruel punishment, tragedy, racism, survival, classism, death, disownment, loss of many things and people, perseverance, loyalty, and... swimming.

A bit of a coming off age story for two young adults who change in big ways after life-changing hardships occur, and they must overcome all obstacles to find their way back to each other. It's a tame romance with lots of drama and tragedies, and another example of why I struggle so hard with reading historical novels. The way women and people of color (including indigenous) were treated is sickening, and I really don't find it entertaining or good company. For those who are less affected by such stories and don't turn away from the inhumanity like me, probably a much more appreciated book.

If The Tide Turns
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book & story was Fantastic! I totally enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. You will fall in love with the strong Mariah and will cheer her on. Her strength & survival will be an inspiration. Great fun story. Totally hope there will be a sequel??
Thank you NetGallery!

The synopsis of If the Tide Turns immediately grabbed my attention. The unique time period of this historical fiction novel is not one I often see but find very interesting. You’ll find yourself rooting for all the characters. But the love chemistry between Maria and Samuel Bellamy is palpable. Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this audiobook.

This is the tale of Maria and Samuel, lovers pulled apart by circumstance but fighting the odds to get back to each other again. Inspired by true events, this tale dives into the era of piracy after the Salem Witch Trials. I was not familiar with the tale of Black Sam Bellamy prior to this, but this story was not like “Bonnie and Clyde”; it was a lot more like “Persuasion” in reverse. This was sadder than I anticipated, and the love story kept me hoping. I enjoyed the pacing; I honestly kept saying “one more chapter.” I expected the piracy/privateering parts to bore me a little and they truly did NOT!
The narration was also good, although Sam’s accent was quite posh (but it did help distinguish him from the other characters).

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this ARC of the audiobook for review.

I loved the idea behind the story, but it felt like it was two separate stories going on only to come together in the beginning and at the very last moment. I had the audiobook version and it was a little confusing when the name was being pronounced "Mariah" but the name in the book detail was "Maria". I would love if the story focused more on building the characters relationships and world building but there was a lot of different conflicts being thrown around when it wasn't really adding extra "oomph" to the plot.

I received this ARC through NetGalley.

I received a physical copy of this book from Goodreads and an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I so wanted to love this book, because it had so many of the elements that I enjoyed; however, it just didn't have the oomph that I was hoping for. I never felt invested in the main character's stories, and that resulted in not enjoying the overall story as much as I thought I would. I did enjoy the setting, and I think that the next book in the series has potential to be more my speed, but this one was just a bit slow and seemed more like the backstory needed to set up a larger story.