Wow! What an exceptional book! Historical fiction with a twist of intrigue and romance! Evie is my favorite character! She's strong, ingenious and capable. White seamlessly writes dual time line and brings it all together in the end! A definite must read!! ( )

Unlike the other books by White that I’ve read, this one alternates between two stories, about two different women living on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, at different points in time -- Louisa Adair in 1914, and Evie Farrow in 1942.

The portrayal of island life was really interesting, and I became increasingly captivated by the mystery surrounding the possible points of connection between Louisa and Evie.

Other parts of the story didn’t appeal to me as strongly, which may be why it took me over a month to finish the audiobook. Watching Louisa’s mother-in-law treat her badly, and anticipating the fallout of this, was stressful. And for much of the book I was indifferent to the plotline about a British officer (Sterling Bertrand) tracking down a German operative, perhaps because it took focus away from the things I was more interested in.

However in the end all the pieces come together satisfyingly. ( )

Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White gave me all the emotions. I cried at a tragic moment. I felt the drama of a long-held secret. Trying to figure out the family connections simultaneously frustrated and intrigued me. I rooted for the couples to live happily ever after. I abhorred a character who acted terribly. The racism of the time saddened me. I felt so invested in this story and these characters that I didn’t want the novel to end.

Beyond my emotionalism, I admired Roseanna M. White’s clever plotting and fantastic writing in Yesterday’s Tides. Both timelines held my attention and had soft romances that included tasteful attraction without lustfulness. The romantic relationships showcased couples who loved each other well despite racial barriers and wartime conflicts. The familial relationships demonstrated strong bonds between both blood and chosen family. In fact, relationships were so integral to the plot that I created a relationship/family tree to identify the connections between characters.

In Yesterday’s Tides, Roseanna M. White deftly integrated spiritual truths into the character development and themes of the novel. The main characters of each timeline faced challenging circumstances that resulted in significant character development, and none of the healing or growth came easily. Each character’s journey cultivated an organic, enduring faith. I loved the integration of different forms of prayer as a daily practice.

I read Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White with my church’s book club and the novel received lots of positivity. Most everyone loved the story but agreed that the family tree was complicated. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

I just finished Yesterday’s Tides and I’m at a loss for words. It was an absolutely beautiful story of people, families, wars, faith, trust, heartbreak, and ultimately seeing how the Lord brings it all together. Not all is perfect, but all is well.

This is a split time novel, going from 1942 back to 1914, and the characters just were wonderful. I loved reading the stories and trying to make the connections between the people in the two separate timelines. Wow! Amazing! I was sad to see the book end. I wanted more, but the story was perfectly complete.

I can’t wait to read more by Roseanna M. White. This is Christian historical fiction with faith weaved in the story so perfectly. No bad language, no sex.

Just a wonderful book that I highly recommend. ( )

It’s been way too long since I last read a Roseanna M. White book. I’ve had one or two waiting to be read lately, but when I realized this was released recently, I decided I should prioritize reading it first. What a great story! I’m sad I put off reading it as long as I did—this was everything I remember from her other books and more.

In this dual-timeline story, we follow two different women—one through part of World War I, and another through World War II. One central theme to both of their stories is the inn on Ocracoke Island that they both work at, and let me say . . . it sounds like a wonderful place to live. I’ve always loved the ocean, and the way the village, the inn, and the ocean around it was described felt very homey and relaxing (when there weren’t explosions out at sea or bad guys around, of course). The mystery element was suspenseful but not nail-biting; the way characters used their own special code was intriguing and fun (and reminded me of how my cousins and I used to write to each other in code); and overall, the whole setting, plot, and characters were delightful, entertaining, and very well developed.

I laughed, I groaned (one character, especially, made me mad), and I sighed with contentment when the book ended. I only wish there was more to read about these friends I’ve made!

One thing I loved, especially, was that characters from many of White’s other books had cameo appearances in this story. I loved seeing the “next step” for a lot of them beyond their stories. It definitely isn’t necessary to have read her earlier stories to enjoy this book, but for those of us who have been long-time readers, that makes for an extra fun bit.

Overall, this was a great story. If you enjoy history, a dash of romance, some mystery, and codebreaking, this would be a great book for you.

I was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it. ( )