Pirates. Adventure. Love. Two people who fell madly in love but wrong place wrong time. This historical fiction is a treasure to dive into. The story was such an easy and enjoyable read! It’s a fictionalized story about Sam Bellamy and Maria Brown in the 17th century. There’s many folklore tales in the Cape Cod area about Sam and Maria. Sam Bellamy often known as Black Sam Bellamy, an English sailor turned pirate in the 17th century.
They met and fell in love but she was already promised to another man by her father. Their love story similar to the tale of Romeo and Juliet. They love one another he promises to return but at the rate of her family she is forced to marry someone she doesn’t want to. I really enjoyed both characters and this story being told in alternating point of view between Sam and Maria. Maria with her life just beginning but feeling like she has so much more adventure and exploring to be had before she settled and married. Sam with his adventures at sea. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Pilar Witherspoon. She did a wonderful job voicing the characters and the story. It was very easy to listen to and feel engaged in the story. Many thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is not your average pirate story! The start was a little slow but then I got drawn into this story of Sam and Maria. It included your typical pirate adventure stories but also touched on so many social issues during the 1700’s in Cape Cod. The characters were very diverse with storylines including black and indigenous people. I really enjoyed Maria’s character and how much she grew as a woman by the end of the novel. This book is definitely a must read for those looking for an adventurous historical fiction! *4.5 stars*

Thank you to Rachel Rueckert, RB Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

SPOILERS

I'm so furious with myself. I have to start paying more attention to the historical fiction I request, because for the second time in about a week, I'm DNFing a book that probably won't end well.

I was 40% in when for shits and giggles I decided to google Sam Bellamy; I was curious about his life and if there really had been a Maria---a.k.a., I was looking for spoilers.

First I noticed he died in 1717. Well, crap---didn't I see the book was set in 17-teen-something? I check, and yes, the book begins in 1715. Chances that Sam survives to the end greatly decreased. I hate when sweet romances end in tragic death; that's why I don't read Nicholas Sparks.

As I'm imagining him drowning in the squall that takes his ship, I read that Maria's existence is only rumored. Part of that rumor is that her and Sam's baby dies.]

Yep. Nope. I'm out. That's a lot of heartbreak I do not want to partake in. I can't have my escapism depressing me; that would be incredibly counterproductive.

Apologies. NetGalley requires a rating so I'll give a neutral three stars.

PS --- The narration was fine, but either I missed something about Sam's background or the narrator made him sound waaaaayyyyy too upper crust.

If the Tide Turns written by Rachel Rueckert and narrated by Pilar Wetherspoon is a well-researched historical fiction novel based on the story of Back Sam Bellamy but with a whole new narrative

Pilar Wetherspoon narrates this book beautifully with a great pace and varied cadence. The characterswere well defined and consistent

I really enjoyed how a dynamic romance and human story was derived from historical facts and was then thrown up into the air and woven into a strong net that drew in multiple tropes and influences from the great tales of history. Not only this, but there are clear reflections with contemporary issues

This is an engaging listen as an audiobook and so very well written

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, the author Rachel Rueckert and the narrator Pilar Witherspoon for this lovely ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Like the Scarlet Letter, but with a pirate plot for the MMC. Good evolution of the FMC. I didn’t find the overall plot super engaging and probably would have DNF’ed it if reading a physical copy.