Changing Tides: An Inishderry sapphic romance

by Iona Kane

Joey O’Hara is content with their quiet life on the windswept island of Inishderry. They have everything they need—except someone to share it with. But who would want to trade city lights for island tides?

Celebrity chef Marianne Browne needs to escape—from her failed business and her broken marriage. With her young son in tow, she retreats to Inishderry, hoping the quiet island will give them both a chance to heal and start afresh.

When Joey steps in to help Marianne navigate island life with a toddler, neither expects the spark that ignites between them. But with Marianne’s heart set on a return to career success and Joey anchored to the island, can the changing tides bring their different worlds together for good?

Genres: Romance

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2025

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhilarating read!
A scrumptious and endearing book #2 in the 'Inishderry Island Romances' ongoing chronicle. Nice coupling (Joey & Marianne) plus Marianne's toddler son -- that was the focus for this storyline and coupledom (Kasia & Tierney) from the previous book with an array of supporting characters.
Highly recommended book and series!

[Simone11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4,5 ⭐️

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joey is so kind natured with a big heart. They spend their time either fishing for seafood, working on the local lifeboat, taking care of their Da and helping friends Tierney and Kasia. They have also developed a crush on a local Celebrity Chef.

Marianne has just lost her marriage, business and home and she is not happy. She finds herself on the Irish Island of Inishderry with her toddler son looking for help and support.

This has a different feel than the first book. The plotline is more fluid where the first could be at times 'stuttery'. Great written characters here they are the main draw. Marianne is complex and not at all easy to like and you worry for Joey often. The passion tho slow burn is so intimate. We also get introduced to a new character in Doc Scott as well.

Overall I loved this book. And there is a 3rd book! so looks like I'm stuck in Inishderry a bit longer.

[Robyn Nyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

I munched this story up in three little sittings and couldn't wait to get back to it every time I had to stop for that pesky sleep nonsense. It's one of the best romances I've read in the past few months and has everything the discerning contemporary romance reader is looking for: great primary and secondary characters you can really see; great character development; believable angst and conflict; and the ultimate pay-off of the happy-ever-after. It's standard romance fare, but the main characters here make the familiar journey all the more interesting, and the addition of an incredibly cute kid enhances both the story and our understanding of and empathy with the MCs.
What also makes this stand out from many romances in the LGBT genre is that the book features a non-binary MC. Our catalogue is crying out for the natural integration of enbie characters, and while some choose to focus on the difficult and negative aspect of that presentation, Kane chose not to follow that particular path, and the book is better for that. Why? Because focusing on the romance of the MC normalises the presence of enbies in the genre. Kane also manages not to sensationalise or exploit their sexuality in the sex scenes. Don't misunderstand me, Kane doesn't ignore the issue nor do they treat it lightly. But how they handle it strikes a perfect balance, giving non-enbies a little insight into their life without being preachy.
I received a pre-proof ARC copy, so I set aside my editing hat simply to enjoy the book, and enjoy the book, I did. Immensely. While Changing Tides is set in Ireland, it's written in US English and is extremely accessible. US readers should devour it with no hesitation, and the themes Kane explores are universal and transcend nationality and geographical location. Go meet Joey and Marianne as soon as you can; you'll love the pairing, the setting, and the intensely warm and fuzzy feeling when everything works out. Extra note here, I loved the way Kane set up situations where you thought there might be an obvious solution, and then they twisted it to give the characters an even better one. The ending is no exception - immensely satisfactory and unexpected development. Highly recommended!

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iona Kane, Changing Tides
ARC
4
gr ab Jan / am 2.2.2025
Lovely romance set in Ireland
With this lovely romance Iona Kane lets us return to the windswept Inishderry Island right off the coast of Ireland. When Kasia and Tierney got there story in Where The Waves Kiss the Shore I secretely cheered for Joey, the hardworking, solitary, somewhat laconic fisher and stout friend. And here we go: Marianne, the awardwinning and charismatic chef loses everything: her restaurant, her wife, her confidence. She is left with little else than her young son (the little darling) and a tenuous bond to Joey who was her supplier of shellfish. Inishderry Island and Joey are becoming her lifeline. The growing attraction between the two starts a slow burn. The only question which tortures both is: can the island tides compete with city lights?
I loved how Kane brought the main characters to life, their background stories, what makes them tick. The presentation of Joey as non-binary and its challenges were very relatable. The island is again like another important character in the story - I loved the descriptions of small town life and the sea. It was a delight to meet again Kasia, Tierney and Doc. There was a point though where I wanted to scream at Marianne and Joey: talk already!! But easier said than done when Joey is an introvert and tends to take to the sea, alone, when she is unsettled. Her reaction is very much in character and thanks to Marianne and Joey‘s friends it all ends well.

I received an ARC. The review is left voluntarily.

[Jo Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I wanted from the sequel to Where the Waves Kiss the Shore. 

I've spent more time in Ireland over the past couple of years and it has fast captured my heart. Not least because of stories like this and their beautiful settings. 

We met Joey in the last book and I wanted to know their story. This book delivers. Joey lives up to their values and is just a great human to read about.

Joey’s struggle with their magnetic attraction to Marianne is perfectly depicted and the chemistry between them is smoking hot.

Iona Kane’s writing is once again strikingly real. This book takes you on a journey through places and deep into feelings.

This is a five star read for me because of its gorgeous romance, two strong main characters, a toddler to squish, and a picture perfect landscape against which the familiar cast of characters live out their adventures. Oysters, anyone?

[karen fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm am fast falling in love with Inishderry, a small but perfectly formed island with a small but perfectly formed community. Everyone seems to be so accepted for who they are and in this story we learn all about Joey and their insecurities around their acceptance which seems to be more internal than external. I would have liked to have delved deeper into Joey's past and the difficulties they had faced growing up as I like to use stories like these as an education into others lives so as to understand others better. Having said that I felt the story was really well told and Iona did a fantastic job of showing both sides of the argument of a divorcing couple, nothing is ever black and white. I hope there is at least one more book in this series, maybe Doc Scott can find love?

[Lou Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changing Tides is an immersive romance with themes of healing, belonging, and the courage it takes to let love in again. Iona Kane once again paints a vivid portrait of island life—the salt in the air, the hum of the waves, and the connections between the people who call it home. But what truly shines is the tender and authentic depiction of Joey and Maryanne’s romance, which unfolds with vulnerability and quiet intensity, capturing the nuances of love that feels both inevitable and hard-won.

It’s a tale of finding love in unexpected places, and about finding yourself. If you love a story where setting and characters intertwine seamlessly, this is an unforgettable gem that will leave you both teary-eyed and smiling.

[E.V. Bancroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Changing Tides. The sense of place - an island off the coast of Ireland - was so vivid I want to visit! The plot pulled me along, so I eagerly read on, and the characters are so complex and flawed I can almost imagine them living their hard but beautiful lives. I loved the main characters with all their quirks and Denny was adorable. If you’ve ever been involved around children some of the scenarios are a little too close to reality!
Wonderful. My favourite book by Iona Kane - to date- and I hope there will be more stories from the island.

[Suzi Vilkman (Hautaniemi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can still feel the wind

This brilliant book takes its readers to a small island in Ireland with the newly remodeled Waterside hotel and its owner couple‘s friend, working as a fisher and seafood supplier. The fisher has a crush on a beautiful customer, a celebrity chef who after her life crumbles apart winds up working in the hotel restaurant.

One thing leads to another, and the elements get to witness the beautiful romance between the two unlikely partners with a cute toddler added to the mix.

[Michael Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book about Joey and Marianne Joey is non-binary and meets Marianne when Marianne loses her business and marriage to her partner gambling. I found the characters exceptional and I really liked how different they were but also how same they were. I recommend this book for all romance readers.

[Char Dafoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling, sweet romance with great Enby rep and an adorable little toddler who stole my heart.

Beautiful scenery, excellent description of the island, and a full cast of colourful characters. I even had a laugh out loud moment.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's so wrong with wearing wool?
Better than the first in the series
Joey is great