Author Sarah M. Eden takes readers through two historical eras in The Tides of Time, a suspenseful, mysterious, and time-traveling romance. The story begins in 1793’s Honfleur, France. Lili Minet waits in the shadows of a church with the Desjardins family. She is trying to help them escape death at the hands of Maximilien Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France.

Despite the bounty on her head, Lili marvels that she has been able to save 72 people so far from “Madame Guillotine” thanks to a network of other brave individuals. As she heads out with the family, she sees her brother Géraud Gagnon and must work to shake him off her trail. Despite their connection and the tragic deaths of their parents, Géraud wants to turn Lili, a.k.a Elisabeth Gagnon, over to the Tribunal, just as he has others as an “agent of death.” He zealously believes in Robespierre’s vision for France.

Lili pays for passage on a different vessel voyaging to England only to face her brother once more during a storm at sea. She is flung overboard and notices the change from darkness to light.

Armitage Pierce, a lightkeeper for Loftstone Island, off the southern coast of England, pulls Lili to safety…in 1873. Lili has traveled 80 years forward in time. (I suspect Sarah and I share a love of North & South actor Richard Armitage’s portrayal of John Thornton.)

While Armitage may have expected some gratitude for saving the half-drown young woman, he sees she is wary of him and says nary a word. He learns she speaks French, but he’s never learned the language, despite having a French mother.

Lili doesn’t trust “Armitage of the Lighthouse” right away, but she does trust his grandfather. She thinks the Tribunal, or their allies are tricking her when she finds books in the room she is staying with publishing dates of 1853, 1867, and 1870. The strange contraption in the kitchen she later learns is a stove. Then, this terrifying monster belching out smoke is a train. Armitage thinks Lili must have been in a rural village in France so remote that she’s just never seen these things.

But grandfather knows Lili has come from another time, which is a detail for later. Lili has one person she can talk to about her trip through time.

Later, Lili learns her mission has been time-travels in the making. She learned through a book on Loftstone folklore placed in a basket for her to find that the waters around the small village cause people to travel the Tides of Time. She and Armitage learn that this happens during storms involving green lightning. The problem is that the tides are unpredictable. One might go back to the time they lived in, or they might go to another time. But Lili and Armitage will visit different periods of time in this journey together. More than one life will be saved.

My Review

I found the opening of this story fast-paced with heart-in-my-throat action. I expected more of the same after those distressing events of the first chapters. I understand that Sarah wanted the reader to experience with Lili waking up 80-years in the future to a time beyond the Reign of Terror in France. I read an advance review copy so she might have trimmed away the extras that weighed down the middle. I skimmed a few chapters instead of reading word for word until a conflict, danger, or problem showed again. I also wished that she had translated the French passages so I didn’t have to highlight them to understand what Lili and Géraud were saying.

All the while, I did wonder what happened to Géraud, Lili’s brother. Did he travel with her to 1873? He could still be a danger to Lili. I imagined the siblings learning the truth about failed dictator Robespierre and the end of the bloodshed. Would they reconnect and find peace, or would Géraud still try to drag Lili back to meet her fate with “Madame Guillotine”? I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll leave those questions unanswered.

I felt like this book could lead to a series, and I learned while editing this review that this is book 1 of the Proper Romance Time-Slip series. Le Charon, the ship Lili and Armitage sail with Captain Travert, has been on many time-traveling adventures. Charon is a name out of Greek Mythology as well as British history and more recently Star Trek lore. Charon is the ferryman who travels across the river Acheron to take souls to the underworld. A second book is hinted at because of unanswered questions like how Lili Minet is “a linchpin,” vital to these travels through time.

Despite skimming through some chapters, I am a Sarah M. Eden fan. I enjoyed spending time with the Pierce family and their young chatty lighthouse apprentice, Mikhail McGuile. The Tides of Times teaches readers about 1790s French history, Southern English dialects and customs, and the tasks and duties of lighthouse keepers.

It is 1793, and Lili is trying to escape France's revolution; she hitches a ride aboard a ship headed for England, but a storm hits the water, and somehow she is transported to the future to 1873 England. She is rescued by Armitage, and he immediately notices there is something off about her. Lili is naturally guarded, but begins to come around to Armitage's friendship and safety. But political upheaval always is present, and Lili learns she cannot escape her past. But is her bond with Armitage strong enough to stand time, and possibly change it?

What I thought was unique about this story was that there was time travel forward - usually we have someone going back in time. While the impact and culture shock is always the same on the time traveler, it was great to get a different perspective on traveling to the future. This book had many layers to it, and I just really enjoyed this historical perspective and the marrying of different worlds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

i’m not a fan of the time-travel trope but when it comes to Sarah Eden, i am like “if she writes it, i’ll read it” so i was eagerly looking forward to reading this and it didn’t disappoint!! 👌🏼
i thoroughly enjoyed this! the plot was very engaging! the way the writer managed to hold everything together was impressive! the last 100 or so pages were the best! i wish there were more chapters or maybe an epilogue! i also liked the characters and romance was, as always, very sweeeet! ❤️‍🩹

thanks to the publisher and the netgalley for the copy!

What an interesting ride the Tides of Time was. It was such a fun concept of time travel. The time travel element mixed with the setting of the lighthouse was very atmospheric. A great story of healing and an epic adventure. Also a nice blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and romance. It’s kind of like a hallmark movie meets outlander. My biggest complaints about the story was the history in the very beginning felt rushed and unexplained, I was a little confused at first. The language at times was definitely very frustrating and hard to get used to. And the romance was very intsalove and needed more development but overall it was a beautiful magical story. I’m unsure if this is potentially part of a series but if it was I would definitely continue with this epic adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing & Sarah M Eden for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

3/5⭐️

The idea of a time travel novel set between the French Revolution and Victorian England is fantastic. The historical elements and portrayal of the era were what I liked most in The Tides of Time. Unfortunately, I found the concept of the book more appealing than its execution. First of all, the story itself isn’t bad, but the pacing is uneven—the middle drags quite a bit, and by the end, everything happens very quickly, within just a few pages. Secondly, I feel the magic system and the rules of time travel aren’t explained thoroughly enough. Thirdly, the romance isn't very convincing. I felt that Lili had more chemistry with other characters (they were not by any means love interests) than with Armitage. The love story between them seemed more like a plot device than a genuinely developed relationship. It was hard for me to get emotionally invested in it. Still, it was a quick read, and I enjoyed it. It wouldn't be my first choice for a time travel romance, but it's not the worst book either.

If you enjoy reading about time travel and romance, then this book is for you! I really enjoyed learning more details about the French Revolution. I knew the blood and violence was horrendous, but it was interesting to see it from the perspective of someone living through that time; this is why I love historical fiction so much. Of course, my favorite part was seeing the humanity and courage of people in the midst of such distressing times, and I’m always open for a little romance. I enjoyed that the heroine knew people from both timelines even though the majority takes place 80 years apart. You’ll have to read the story to find out how. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a complimentary ARC of this book. This review was given voluntarily.

One thing when you read a time traveler's story is that you can’t really guess what could happen and it leaves you shocked when you least expect it. Lili from France and Lili comes to the future of Lofstone, England. She did not believe what happened but proof had been lying in front of her eyes. It’s illogical and impossible and to have people believe in her is hundreds of times impossible. Armitage had his reason to be suspicious of her and her behaviour as soon as her arrival. She provides little to no information for him to understand her. She, of course, had her own reason. Both of them stuck with trust against each other.

If you’re reading this book, I find it’s much more interesting to put out your prediction of what could actually happen tho in the story and you will be surprised of the things that actually happened. At least, it does for me.

I love a story that doesn't “tell” the characters in love but show it instead. It just made me giddy and fluttery inside. And I finally got a story without the love at the first sight trope! The way the author shows Armitage in love, even though he hasn't said yet, just made me sigh in single. Their romance was subtle but enough since the plot mostly revolved around the mystery of The Tides of Time.

I really enjoy the story and I don’t think it’s a story that is easily forgotten once read.

This book is probably a 4.5 for me. I LOVED the time travel aspect of this book. The time periods were amazing. I didn't know a lot about 1793 and 1873, so I enjoyed getting a glimpse of that. Lili and Armitage relationship was fun to watch develop. Sarah did a great job letting us really get to know the characters. I especially loved the overbearing but loving aunts in the village. The only reason this book wasn't a 5 for me was the language. I'm sure that was normal for that time period, but the reversal of the pronouns was hard to keep up with. Throw in the French, and I kept having to reread sentences because I thought I missed something. I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us. Highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. I can't wait for book #2!

Wow! Absolutely wonderful! So many twists and turns and turns, I could not put the book down. As with all of Sarah Eden’s other books, I fell in love with this one immediately. Lili and Armitage are the characters you dream of. You can’t help falling in love with5em immediately and rooting for this happy ending through the entire book! Every time I felt I had a grasp on where their story was headed, I was literally thrown overboard with a new twist. I throughly enjoyed the concept of time travel and how expertly it was done in this book. This book is a must read!!

This is a cosy historical romance and a mind bending time travel story, smushed together into one delightful read.

Lili, a brave heroine helping people survive and escape Paris during the French Revolution, finds herself on an English island, having jumped 80 years into the future.

This is such a perfectly placed leap through time, with so many important historical changes happening that make for a really interesting setting, especially as we get to see the 19th century through the eyes of someone who hasn’t even seen a stove before.

The time travel itself is such a great element, and kept me guessing right to the end. I gasped out loud more than once as I read through.

The romance was perfectly cosy and sweet, and when the characters are understandably unsure of one another, it just makes them more real.

This is a really satisfying read, with some really unexpected warmth and thrilling bits.

I was lucky enough to read an arc of this book.

Wow! This is an emotional rollercoaster of a story. The characters are amazing. I love how intertwined the story is throughout time. I love Lili's incredible courage and strength. Armitage and his family are so good and loving and also very brave. The horrors of the time period portrayed in Revolutionary France were haunting. I found the English language used in Loftstone a bit jarring at first but then became an interesting look into the time period.
I am thrilled that there are to be more adventures with Lili, Armitage and several other characters. The next book can't come soon enough.

Thanks to Netgalley & Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc!

**3.5 stars** This was a heartwarming read! I haven’t read any other works by Sarah M. Eden but after reading this one, I would love to look into her previous and upcoming books!

First set in 1793, Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal France, Lili navigates her way through these hard times, helping people escape these tumultuous times. After a goosechase with a sympathiser, she finds herself shipwrecked and magically transported to an island in England set in another time. Specifically, 1873. Enter, Armitage, a caretaker of the island’s lighthouse, rescues Lili and the two immediately are wary of each other. With time, the two help Lili adapt to her new normal and develop an inevitable romance.

Having realized this was a work of historical fiction AND magic realism? I never requested for an arc so fast. This was so well written, having taken care of sounding mostly historically accurate. I loved reading in Lili’s pov and seeing her navigate her new life in the future. The romance is definitely a slow burn but it was so sweet to read and the glimpses you see when the two show each other they care for each other had me screaming into my hand–it was so cute.

There were some parts that dragged a little and others that required a clearer reasoning because the explanation behind the magic was confusing. I also wished the romance portion was slightly longer, ONLY because I’m selfish and wanted to read more on this. But it was still a good blend of historical fiction with a romance subplot. I’m sad this wasn’t longer and I would have loved to read more of this!

What a thrilling ride! I don't read a lot of time travel novels, but I do enjoy them when they are done right. And this one is indeed done right!

Lili Minet is a young French woman living through the horrors of the French Revolution and the appropriately-named Reign of Terror in 1793. No one is safe, no one can be trusted, and survival is balanced on a knife edge. Lili works to help smuggle innocent French people out of the country to safety and is on the verge of escaping herself when she finds herself thrown overboard during a storm and transported to 1873, where she is pulled out of the water by Armitage Pierce, one of the men who runs the lighthouse.

It is hard to write this review without spoilers, as I want to rave about all my favorite parts! I loved the fact that while it is time-traveling, it is still all historical, with no contemporary scenes. (Well, except for one tiny glimpse of one. 😉) And I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was more than just one "travel". The attention to detail in this story is fantastic. I found myself wishing I knew more about the French Revolution, yet it was never a hindrance to not be well-versed in the knowledge of it. I LOVE the way Sarah Eden wove the elements of her story together. Phenomenal! It made for an exciting, intricate story line, without feeling contrived or being confusing or hard to follow. I am also pleased with the ending - although it is a to-be-continued story, there was no cliffhanger. Most of it is wrapped up nicely for now, while still leaving me to eagerly anticipate the continuation!

And can we talk about that gorgeous cover design? 🤩 I received a copy of this book from the publisher; a positive review was not required.

It’s such a challenge to find a romance book with enough of a plot to actually pull me in, and this book has done it!

I was immediately intrigued by the life of our (fictional) main character Lili Minet who lived during the Reign of Terror in 1790s France. The author did an excellent job of slowly bringing in historical elements throughout the book rather than info dumping (no textbooks, please!).
Lili is quickly transported through the Tides of Time to a sleepy island Lighthouse in 1890s England. We get cozy, “small town,” vibes as a beautiful romance begins for Lili. More than just romance, she’s re-discovering what it’s like to have a family and be a part of a community after spending years in terror.

I absolutely loved the balance of this book- intrigue, romance, adventure, small-town, historical- yes, yes and yes!

Pros- Feels like a warm hug, page turning adventure, sweet (closed door) romance, unique historical elements.
Cons- Dialogue made for a very slow and somewhat clunky read- would have preferred the French and English Dialect were implied rather than meticulously typed out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this early copy.
#TheTidesofTime #NetGalley

It's been a while since a book has made me really cry, but The Tides of Time completely wrecked me in the best possible way. This story was an absolute gem, and I can't get over how beautiful it was. From the heartfelt romance to the unforgettable characters, I felt like I lived every moment with them.

Lili, in particular, is such a fantastic heroine—strong, compassionate, and so wonderfully real. And Armitage? His loyalty and devotion to Lili were just swoon-worthy. I found myself utterly captivated by their connection, and honestly, I just need more of their story. Where's the next book, please?!

If I had to pick a teeny-tiny complaint, it would be the dialogue. Armitage has a very distinct way of speaking that initially felt a little distracting. Over time, though, I found myself adjusting and just rolling with it. But the French? Oh boy. If only I'd had the ebook version to quickly whip out Google Translate! There were several moments where I was left guessing what people were saying, and I definitely missed the full richness of those interactions.

The time travel aspect? Brilliant! It added such a thrilling layer to the story, and the second half was intense. I couldn't stop turning pages, desperate to know what would happen next. The suspense was real, and I was on the edge of my seat until the very last word.

In short, The Tides of Time was a beautiful, emotional, and gripping read. If you're a fan of historical romance, time travel, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with, this book is absolutely for you.

Sarah M. Eden is amazing. I love a good time travel and this one did not disappoint. Two historical times and places merging. Different languages and ways of speaking that were well written and interesting. The characters were rich and interesting and pulled at the heartstrings. Family relationships of love and hate. Highly recommend, hope more are too come!!

What if you were cast eighty years into the future?
That is the question of this book. How many things would have changed? How foreign would it feel? What if you fell in love, knowing you did not belong there? Sarah Eden does a wonderful job of portraying the confusion you would face if suddenly tossed into the future. Cooking, lighting, clothing, transportation, all have changed yet kindness, caring, and fear remain. As Lili faces a confusing future and a concerning past, she finds herself drawn to the puzzling Armitage. Armitage is likewise drawn to this woman with a hidden past. When danger from the past arrives on their doorstep they will have to work together if they are to survive. An enjoyable read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

This book was everything. I love the time travel romances! This one was so good and Sarah just writes characters who are relatable and you want to root for. I couldn’t put it down. You’ll love this book!

WOW! Sarah M. Eden is branching out with a new genre, and of course, still doing so with finesse. I saw this pre-release title in an email, and quickly checked my source for an early release for my favorite author's book - and I GOT IT!! I got it on a Friday so I could finish it over the weekend!

It was a new genre for Sarah Eden, with time travel, and a different area & time of England from her usual fare, but it was still brilliantly executed. The use of location-specific pronouns was so different that I at first struggled to read them, but it was so brilliantly consistent, that I quickly adjusted! As usual, her storyline was tight, and all the characters were worth reading about.

Interestingly, even as wild a stretch as it was to believe the time travel aspect, it became almost believable as more and more characters became involved. The romance was slow and sweet in developing, then an important part of moving the plot along.

I was relieved to have the eBook version, which allowed me to easily translate the lengthy French sentences I would have struggled with in a physical copy.

Sigh. Thank you for continually coming up with delicious stories! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this prerelease version.

#TheTidesofTime #NetGalley

Historical fiction, time travel, romance and suspense are masterfully woven into a gripping story by Sarah Eden. Lili is a strong and passionate young woman who helps people escape from the tribunal in France. Swept overboard at sea she is rescued but finds herself 80 years in the future. Armitage, our reluctant hero, is moody and sullen for the first part of the story. He finds Lili is able to break past all his defenses. Their love story is a sweet story of love and redemption.
I honestly was reluctant to pick up this story because historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, but how could an author possibly do a good job of melding that with time travel? There are enough cheesy movies, shows and books that I almost didn’t read The Tides of Time. Eden did a remarkable job painting the time period (s) the characters live in. The seemingly subtle differences between the 1790’s and 1870’s were HUGE to people in that time period. Inventions like matches, telegraphs and trains were confusing to our time traveling cast, but at home to those who belonged in the time period.
I can’t decide if I hope Eden writes another story (or more!) about the Pierce family or if it ends so well that I am content. Both are true! I will definitely be watching for more from this author.