The Tides of Time: A Storm Tide Romance (Storm Tide #1) by Sarah M. Eden

 

Summary (from the publisher): Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world of 1873 England. When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea, he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea, can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two. Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must navigate the challenges of a love that defies the boundaries of time and the perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—whether their bond is strong enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love.

Review: I am always a sucker for a historical time travel book! This one had such a great premise. Lili Minet is fleeing death after saving many lives in the turbulent world that is France during Robespierre's revolutionary Tribunal. But a violent storm at sea somehow lands her eighty years in the future in 1873 England. When lighthouse keepers Armitage Pierce and his grandfather kindly take her in, slowly comes to terms with her time travel and begins to unravel details that may have drawn her to Armitage, all while the two begin to fall for one another. 

I have a fascination with lighthouse stories and really loved that Lili's travels landed her in a lighthouse. Armitage and everyone in the local village is so welcoming to Lili, despite her obvious wariness and attempts to hide details of her background. Armitage and Lili bond over both having lost parents and their close proximity in the lighthouse allows them to spend a lot of time together and get to know each other quickly. 

I didn't fully buy the character of Lili's brother. He was so stubbornly evil and awful to her. I would think somewhere inside him would have been some sort of brotherly affection for his siter. I will also say that the middle of this felt very slow with little action for a considerable time. But the action in the end more than made up for it! There are dramatic sea scenes, characters in prison, others lined up in a queue to be executed, and dramatic escapes. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but I loved how the author connected Lili and Armitage from her past life to his.

I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it. However, the French accent used for Lili's dialogue was, while believable, difficult at times to understand.  

Stars: 4