When Tides Turn

Waves of Freedom #3

by Sarah Sundin

Tess Beaumont is tired of being thought of as just a pretty face. Eager to do her part for the war effort, she joins the Navy's newly established WAVES program for women. Perhaps there she can convince people that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills in the fight against German U-boats and hoping to make admiral. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. Convinced that romance will interfere with his goals, Dan is determined to stay the course, no matter how intriguing a distraction Tess is.

But love, like war, is unpredictable. When Dan is shipped out at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he finds himself torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help the beguiling Tess root out a possible spy on shore. Could this fun-loving glamour girl really be the one?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, World War II, Historical Romance

385 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2017

About the author

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of Mists over the Channel Islands (coming February 2026) Midnight on the Scottish Shore (2025), and Embers in the London Sky (2024). Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, The Sound of Light was a finalist for both the Christy Award and the Carol Award, and When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and teaches Sunday school. She enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

Reviews

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. That was, without a doubt, the most wonderful, amazing, precious, book EVER! To the point where I cried happy tears 'cause of just how beautiful it was. I'm . . . not sure I've ever cried over happiness in a book before. It was utterly AMAZING!

Full review to come later. When I can think clearly again.

Okay, full review now. And I'm just going to point out at the beginning that while I'm doing my best to keep this review to a moderate length . . . that may not actually work. xD

Well, Mrs. Sundin has done it again. And this is by far my favorite of ALL her books! (Followed closely, of course, by "Blue Skies Tomorrow" ;)) Since I could ramble on and on about it, I'm gonna focus my review on three different areas. Characters, Content, and historical info.

So, characters. Dan is, by far, one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. And yes, while I understand this may sound a bit weird, I related to him so well. The things he struggled with, the way he looked at life, his being the oldest brother in the family . . . I related to him more than I have any fictional character in a long while. I always appreciate the the depth there is in Sarah Sundin's characters, and he was no exception. He had real life struggles, and I learned a lot and was encouraged in my walk with Christ by reading his story.
Tess was awesome, too! She's quite a bit different than Dan, but I loved the energy and enthusiasm she added to the story. Her struggles and flaws were also so, so real. I love how Mrs. Sundin deals with some difficult issues in life, instead of skirting around them like so many christian fiction authors do.
The supporting characters were, as always, spectacular. But I'll refrain from further comment on them. ;)

The content was very light! There was no swearing, cursing, or excessive violence of any kind. As for romance, there were two kisses at the end, and a wedding . . . but other than that, there really wasn't much at all. I think this actually was quite a bit lighter on the romance than her other books, and I really enjoyed and appreciated that!

Historical info was fascinating! I've never studied much about the Navy in the Atlantic, so this was a fresh look at a whole new part of the war for me. I loved reading about all the equipment, ships, planes, etc. Also, reading about the Battle of the Atlantic and the first U-boat sinking by the Americans was really interesting!

Sooo, yeah. I loved the book. can you tell? ;P This is the first book in a while that I've actually not found anything I disliked in . . . the writing style fit, the history was astounding, and the spiritual message extremely relevant.

5 out of 5 stars!

*I received a free copy from Revell in exchange for my honest review*

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! I liked Tess's determination to become a better version of herself and to be the sort of person who people respected. I liked how she wanted to help find out who was sabotaging Yvette's French group's plans for freedom, and enjoyed the guessing that went on with that story, as she helps find the traitor(s) in the group and stop the leaking of info to Nazis.

The romance was great, too. I'm really picky over what I term a "great" romance, but this one is authentic and so sweet. The characters are realistic and make mistakes, but they aren't totally stupid, and they aren't stuck on salivating over each other's bodies.

There's also a great Christian message, and the characters are faithful in church attendance on Sundays and even discuss the meaning of Sabbath rest. Definitely Christian fiction.

I'm definitely going to miss reading books about the Avery family! And it's going to be quite hard to wait until next spring to read the new series Sundin is releasing.

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Review Back in March:

I have no words. *sobs, laughs, smiles, etc.* It can't be over, can it?! I just can't be ... and yet it is. I'm honestly a little disappointed but that's just because I want there to be more, not because this isn't the most amazing book ever. Because this book ... wow. It's so good! Real review coming soon. :)

Thoughts Now:
Um ... it has been too long to write a review. *bows* BUT IT WAS GOOD.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so enjoyed this series by Sarah Sundin and, while I’m sad to see it end, When Tides Turn is a great sendoff. The history incorporated seamlessly into the story continues to intrigue me.

And the romance… I have to admit, from the past two books, Tess has not been my favorite character. But she completely redeems herself in When Tides Turn. I love the color she adds to Dan’s life, and the way she upends his best efforts to maintain a cordial distance. Dan’s journey through the novel – as well as Tess’ – makes the romance all the sweeter and the kisses all the more passionate.

Bottom Line: When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries, WW2 buffs, and anyone who enjoys a great romance! If you’ve been reading the series since the beginning, you will appreciate the time spent with beloved characters, getting to see a bit more of how their own stories play out. (If you are new to the series, this can be read as a standalone too.) History and mystery collide intriguingly, framing the romance and the faith elements perfectly. I’m sad to see this series end but I’m looking forward to the next one from Sundin!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming later, but for now I'll just say that I haven't read a 5-star Christian novel in practically forever, but I'm happy to hand out all the stars here. THIS ONE WAS JUST SO DARN CUTE.

UPDATE:

Y'all know I love a good Sarah Sundin book. I'm not generally the type for novels that are more on the romance-y side (I tend to like romantic mushy-ness as a subtle side dish rather than a main course) but her books are the exception. I loved the first book in this series, but didn't care for the second, so I was curious if When Tides Turn would regain my good opinion on the Waves of Freedom series.

Well, it did. Despite the fact that Dan and Tessa were almost complete opposites, I found them both completely relatable (although all things considered, I'm generally more like Dan) and likable. Again, the characters have very real flaws that create messes most authors wouldn't let their characters get into, and sins we many times think as "little" and let slide are addressed in a way that isn't annoying or preachy- what I appreciate most about these books is that the spiritual themes are usually pretty unique and not the cliched ones you tend to find in Christian fiction. Also, though the characters have misunderstandings and arguments like couples tend to do, they aren't dragged out over fifty million chapters that stretch into frustrating torture. My only complaint is that it did take me about four chapters to really get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one just may be my favourite Sarah Sundin novel so far.

It's so good.

Everything is there: romance, suspense, character growth, romance, well-developed themes, romance, amazing WII history, ROMANCE, DID I MENTION ROMANCE?!?!

Oh but Dan and Tess were just perfection.

I've enjoyed every single Sundin novel I've read thus far, and the romances have all been really good so far, but this one was on a higher level than the others. This one was just really, really well done, so cute and chemistry-filled I just wanted to keep on reading.

I've noticed that I often really enjoy the last book in Sundin's trilogies a lot because it usually features an H/h we've already met and got to know in the previous two books, so there's room for even greater character development, and they just feel so real and it's overall just so well-done.

I'm also a really huge fan of the starched-hero-gets-unstarched, and I lost my heart to Dan within the first few chapters. Who doesn't want to witness the tireless workaholic's carefully built armour crumble through his blossoming relationship with the courageous, energetic and fun-loving beauty?

I tell you, it's good. I wanted more. I wanted another book in this series.

The rest of the plot was amazing as well, When Tides Turn is not just a romance (although that was definitely my favourite aspect of it) and had so much more to offer!

I highly, highlyyyyyyyy recommend this book, this series, this author. IT'S AMAZING.

[Vanessa Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that I've finished this book, I'm all caught up on Sarah Sundin's series, and I'm kind of bummed I'm going to have to wait 6 months to a year for a new book from her. Some of her books I absolutely loved (the Wings of Glory namely), and some of them fell a little flat for me. This book was one of those that fell flat.

As for the characters, I really enjoyed Tess. She was such a fun-loving girl, but in a wholesome way. She was just really sweet and would be such a great friend. I'm a little surprised we didn't hear more about her backstory with her loser boyfriends, but no one really cares about those dudes anyway. Dan was mostly likeable - I started enjoying his character more as the book progressed, but he definitely wasn't my favorite. Usually, I'm a fan of the serious, stoic guys in books, but Dan was just ... kind of boring.

The characters were probably the best part of this book, because the plot was just really contrived to me. I don't know if it was the mood I was in when I read this book, but that mystery thing was just weird. It seemed very forced - there had to be a mystery because it was a part of this series - and I was not invested at all in what happened. The scenes where Tess was at the French peoples' meetings were a drag. However, the romance aspect of the story was nice. I really liked how Tess and Dan were friends before they were romantically involved, and seeing their relationship change was enjoyable. But ... something that happened near the end of the book drove me up a wall. It was just unnecessary in my opinion and kind of annoying. Misunderstandings and taking things out of context are overused. Thankfully, the problem was resolved swiftly - that was a cute scene - and the characters didn't mope too much in-between. The climax was also a bit of a letdown. I know the whole point of the book was Dan's steadiness and doing what was right in spite of what he wanted, but his part of the climax was dull. I know the author was making a point, so I definitely appreciate that, but it dragged. Tess's side of things, though, was suspenseful, so that helped.

As for Biblical themes, there were definitely morals presented. The Gospel wasn't really iterated at any point that I remember, but there were morals about the important of rest and selflessness. In the past, most of Sarah Sundin's characters had at least one flaw, but Dan and Tess really didn't seem to have one major flaw. That's probably more realistic, but they also got over their problems quite quickly, so the moral wasn't quite as powerful as I think it could've been. However, I was glad to see morals presented throughout the book, and the romance was clean.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book because it was the last in the series. This isn't a bad book - it was hard to decide how to rate it - but it just didn't engage me as much as I'd like. Of course, Sarah Sundin did excellent research as she always does. I'm looking forward to reading her new releases!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the entire Waves of Freedom series, and When Tides Turn is an excellent addition to it. If you have not read the series, I believe you can still enjoy When Tides Turn. However, I really liked catching up with the previous couples from books one and two in this story and seeing what was going on in their lives.

Tess was definitely not a favorite of mine when she appeared in the previous books, but I couldn’t help but love her in this novel! When Tides Turn is packed with interesting details about U Boats, Radar, the WAVES program, and life at sea during wartime. I loved it all! When Tides Turn had action, danger, suspense, and such a wonderful budding romance between Dan and Tess. These two characters seemed like opposites, yet truly were perfect for each other. Their story is one you don’t want to miss! I loved this book from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those crazy books where the things you don't like are things that you discover a bit later... you're not supposed to like. That makes reviewing hard. In some ways, it feels like Sarah Sundin is skipping ahead of you killing your objections just in the nick of time. It's war, folks--war on criticism. Just teasing.

But seriously, one of the nicest things about the book was the consistent character growth that managed never to feel forced. I did get bogged down with some repetitiveness. Occasionally, I wanted to say, "Trust us. We get what is going on. You don't have to explain it." But that's the only true criticism I have. And it wasn't heavy-handed.

What I loved most were the faith elements and the fact that neither Tess nor Dan were always right/wrong. This is not a "Mallorca Files." (thankfully!). Tess does stupid stuff. So does Dan. They both do them for good and for stupid reasons. You know, like people.

The subplots weren't just interesting ways to fill out the pages, they actually advance the character development. What a concept. I'll have to go back and read the first two now, eh?

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have adored this series since the very beginning of Through Waters Deep. So, I was very much looking forward to this third book! Quite honestly I really didn't like Quintessa very much in the two previous books and I did find myself feeling a tad skeptical that she would ever grow on me, I needn't have worried, in Sarah Sundin's masterful hands Tess became a fantastic heroine that I very much liked and was rooting for from the start of her story! It was great getting to know Dan, we have only seen him briefly in the first two books so it was wonderful to see him grow and become the amazing hero I knew he would be! It was awesome to see how Dan and Tess's personalities while very different were perfectly matched.
I loved When Tides Turn, though this is one series where I find it impossible to choose a favorite!
Once again I was blown away by the amazing historical details, (I've said it before and I'll say it again, in general World War Two is not my favorite historical time period to read about) I absolutely adore Sarah Sundin's books, I am always swept away by the fabulous details and I never feel like I'm reading the story but instead that I am living in the 1940's alongside the characters for a little while, which I love!
I loved the updates that we got on Jim and Mary, and Arch and Lillian, it did make me a little sad to have to say goodbye to the Avery family though!
I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it! I cannot wait to read more of Sarah Sundin's work in the future!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher. No review required. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed When Tides Turn. I was a bit lost with the story at times, partly because I had a hard time remembering the previous books and who everyone was/what all happened before, but that didn't stop me from finding the book intriguing to read and fun!

I loved the little nuggets of real history that I learned throughout the story (especially WAVES). Sarah Sundin does a fantastic job of weaver facts and fiction, to where you feel like the entire story is real. I love that! Also, I loved the ending. It was so sweet!!

All in all, When Tides Turn was a very good ending to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it...especially the last few chapters. :)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with the Avery family, and how I love being with them and catching up with all of their lives. With this book we are right in the heart of battle in WWII, and watching the war turn before our very eyes.
This is also Tess’s story and what a heroine she is, but as tough as she is, she is still quite fragile, and yet she is ready to give her life for a friend. Will she be able over come her fears and open her heart to a bit of romance and love?
Then there is Dan Avery and his fear of commitment after once being burned, now he wants to make the military his life, and there doesn’t seem to be any room for a wife.
All the while there is drama and people who are really out for revenge, and then a major war to fight. A great factual read, and sorry that it is the end of this series.
I received this book through Net Galley and Revell Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turning the final page with a big, sappy grin and a deep sigh... Sarah does it once again! Read my full review at http://www.amydrown.com/review-when-t...

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I absolutely loved it! My favourite one of the series! I loved the romance (no-nonsense Dan and spirited Tess made an adorable couple), the naval history, the mystery, everything about it...5 + stars!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I hesitated in requesting this for review. I haven't read the rest of the series and I worried that it might make this one hard to get into. The first fourth of the book was a little slow for me, as many characters were mentioned from the last two books, but as the story neared the middle I was hooked.

I loved the message of this book. The little tid-bits of lessons from the Bible was so good, perfect in Dan and Tess's life as they stayed served in the Navy. Dan got on my nerves at first, especially when he kept telling himself he had to be focused on his work. At one point I was going to give this book three stars because it seemed like all his scenes ended with "He had to stay on course."

But the last half of the book redeemed my view of Dan. Toward the end when he chooses the right step I really wanted to applaud him. And then Tess...I was afraid she'd misunderstand Dan for page upon page, but it only lasted a chapter or two. What a relief! Dan's letter was so honest and sweet.

The mystery bit with Yvette and the French group had me somewhat confused at the beginning. I didn't understand why Tess was immediately thinking "I have to solve this mystery" when I hardly even saw anything mysterious. But that part of things improved and the end scenes clearing up the mystery were intense and herioc.

Now the romance. There are a couple detailed kisses that I could have done without, but I felt Tess and Dan were more focused on the true character of each other, rather than the physical side. Don't take me wrong...they did NOTICE each other, but it wasn't because of they had "nice bodies".

So yes, I recommend this book. And it definitely makes me want to read the other two in this series. I'm astounded at the author's thorough research of World War 2 facts!

*I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story! It was interesting and educational. I love how the author pulled in situations and people of World War II along with her fictional characters. It gave the story a very authentic feel.

Tessa was great. I met her in book one and she came across as a spoiled brat. However, in book three she shows she truly is a woman of character and depth. The storyline of her fighting to be “more than a pretty face” was excellent.

Dan was priceless! A man of strong integrity that believed it took hard work to achieve his dreams. But he was far from perfect in some of his attitudes. It was fun to watch how Tessa challenged him.

The story provided a great romance between Dan and Tessa as well as mystery. The story of the French Resistance group and their challenges made this more than “a romance novel.”

Although book three of a series you don’t have to read all of them to enjoy this book. The other characters from the first two books play secondary roles in this story.

I give the book 4.5 stars!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author, but I was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Waves of Freedom Series included the welcome addition of a mystery to each of the novels. In When Tides Turn, we get Tess and Dan's story. Tess is known only for her beauty and not her substance. Dan is 100% focused on his work and nothing else. Their characters were likable and showed good development throughout the story.

The author does a spectacular job with research and incorporated actual events and names into this story. The detail at sea didn't keep my interest, but I enjoyed all the other historical aspects.

The mystery fell flat for me and I didn't have interest in that part of the story.

Overall, this was a good novel.

[Cara Putman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tides Turn is the culmination of my favorite series of Sarah's. It has mystery, romance, a tiny touch of suspense, and a cast that just won't let me go. There's realism of the war and what it was like on the homefront. There's so much in the book that makes it feel like a smorgasborg of perfection. All my favorite elements are included and I closed the book with such a happy sigh. Sarah is one of those writers who truly gets better with each book.

If you love World War II, historicals, and a little bit of Nancy Drew, this book is perfection. Read it. You will be so glad you did.

[Jayna Baas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still need to actually read the first book in this series. But I’ve liked the second and third! There’s some overlap of characters, but not so much that I couldn’t figure out who was who. To me, the mystery felt a bit tacked-on and the romance was pretty typical, but I liked the unique details here and there, such as the useful vs. beautiful aspect and how Dan and Tess complemented each other (loved the black-and-white vs. color description). I’m just not a fan of romances featuring two characters who love each other and think the feeling isn’t or shouldn’t be mutual. As with other Sundin books I’ve read, I loved the historical details that were woven in (I have a thing for ships). I also loved the ordinary, everyday faith struggles the characters had, including the ways Tess changed Dan’s perspective on some of his relationships and Dan chose to act with integrity. While I did agree with the importance of rest, I didn’t agree with the references to Sunday as the Sabbath for New Testament believers. I know that’s a common belief in some circles, but I don’t find it biblical. Otherwise, the book was full of great Christian truth applied to common situations. I love to see Christian characters who truly act like Christians. Not sure I’d have opted for the nightclub scene, but it was an interesting facet of the mystery and such a tragic historical fact. I don’t know that I’ll necessarily read this book again, and I do caution readers who are sensitive to violence and moderate romance, but I enjoyed it and would like to continue the series (which in this case means reading the first book).

[Janell R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start off this review by saying I discovered something about writing styles in relation to myself when I was having a conversation with a friend the other day. She said there are three main story telling styles. Character driven stories, plot driven stories, and theme driven stories. When she told me that I was able to identify why some books really stick with me and others leave me with more of a ‘meh’ reaction. My favorites are character driven stories, a close second being plot driven stories and I have a harder time really getting into theme driven stories. Okay that’s the introduction.

Sarah Sundin is an incredibly talented author whose specialty is theme driven stories set in the World War II time period. Her research and attention to detail is truly noteworthy and for that I admire her. She does also do a great job weaving a plot and I really like her characters. So this should honestly be a 5 star book and I think as far as quality and everything it truly is. For my personal enjoyment however I’m going to bump it down to 4 stars. As I said I really liked her characters, but I never felt them. There seemed to be certain elements of emotion lacking where she told what they were feeling instead of showing it. However since I’ve now made the discovery that I described before, it doesn’t bother me as much and I’m able to give this book the kind of review I want to. If you love the WWII time period and all the naval info and details etc. with a great story line to make it flow, I think you’ll really like this book!

I also liked how she portrayed the spiritual journey of the characters, especially Dan. Such an admirable hero, not because he’s perfect but because he’s teachable and surrendered to what the Lord shows him.

So as I said, a five star book, but for my own personal enjoyment I’m bumping it down to four stars.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting World War Two story by this wonderful author! This third book in the Waves of Freedom series is set mainly in Boston from mid-1942 to 1943, coupled with plenty of action in the Atlantic and beyond, as the naval battles escalated. It was easy to read as a stand alone, picking up where the other books left off, with some returning characters.

Love how this author's books are so well-researched, giving just enough information to make it interesting and visualize the scenes, but never boring! She does a superb job of putting a face on the war, making it feel personal. As the main couple's friendship grew, and they struggled with their career goals, tense work situations and other concerns, it pulled me into the story. The battle scenes and espionage were quite exciting, and the romance was fun, as they danced around each other trying to keep it light.

Tess' character was a perfect foil to Dan's--the color to his black and white--a heroine in her own right, trying to be useful and putting up with a lot to achieve her own goals. His stoic life was crying out for her playful, understanding friendship, giving him a new perspective on balancing work and play especially. Loved the use of the old hymn, Jesus, Pilot Me, so perfect for their situation. It was interesting learning about the WAVES, as well as the impact of radar and sonar in bringing victory at sea. An index for the many technical terms would be a handy reference.

Highly recommend to anyone interested in WW2, and especially historical Christian romance fans!

(An e-copy was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing and well worth the wait! Filled with adventure, friendship, faith, romance, hard lessons, emotion, and a bit of danger, When Tides Turn made me so in love with reading. ❤

I'm always excited to dive into another book from Sarah Sundin. She brings the 1940s and World War II to life, and sucks me into the lives of her sweet, dear characters. Quintessa Beaumont was quite lovable with her vibrant personality. It was exciting to get her story, and watch her work through life issues, recognize her faults, and become such a beautiful person. And Lt. Dan Avery! I just loved him. And it was so adorable how Tess brought out the color in him. I feel like Sarah Sundin did such a great job bringing to life the uniqueness and complexity of these two characters, and their relationship with each other.
I love how these books center on one family. Seeing Mary, Jim, Lillian, and Arch again was amazing. So sweet.

The historical aspect, the mystery, the character growth, the humor, the friendships, and romances ... What can I say? Stunning, as usual.

A thoroughly enjoyable, lovely, and meaningful finale to the WAVES OF FREEDOM series. Can hardly wait to read more of this author's work!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final novel in Sundin's Waves of Freedom series immerses readers in 1942 wartime Boston. Quintessa is a fascinating character, and everything about the developing romance between her and Dan is realistic, heartwarming and humorous. Tess' ability to make light of a situation is the perfect balance to Dan's stodgy behavior. Sundin's research is stellar; the information and detail about the Navy and the WAVES during this time period is thoroughly engrossing.
Quintessa Beaumont is tired of being just another pretty face and not being taken seriously for her brain as well. She joins the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) Navy reserve in order to make a difference in a tangible way. Lt. Dan Avery works in anti-submarine efforts, but he longs to be at sea with his fellow sailors fighting the enemy. As Tess becomes aware of a possible spy infiltrating her French resistance group, Dan offers to help her despite his desire to steer far away from relationships. As the two grow closer, they must figure out what they feel for each other, despite the danger of their current circumstances

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure, because they were all so good, but I think this may have been my favourite book in this series. I really liked what I saw of Tess in the first two books, and Dan had been a character that both Jim and Arch looked up to, so it was cool to get to know him better as well.
When I think of Tess and Dan, my first thought is the phrase 'opposites attract'. But, as Tess points out to Dan, using the example of his parents, sometimes that's exactly what is needed in a relationship. I love how Dan came to understand that Tess added vital colour and encouragement to his life . . . that she would not be a deterrent to his plans and career, but a firm and loving support to those plans.
The mystery aspect of this novel, while not quite as pivotal as in the first two books of the series, did leave me guessing until the very end reveal where I figured things out at the same time as Tess did.
4.5 stars

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it seems impossible given how much I loved the first book in the series, I just might like When Tides Turn a smidgen more. Both are spectacular. Once again, Sundin takes us deep into the historical details of the war, with fun and engaging characters to guide us. After a recent weekend playing the boardgame Axis and Allies, I found the battles more interesting than usual, and I was picturing the movements of the various ships and u-boats on the giant world map as I read.

Dan is the best--he's stoic, stubborn, and a workaholic (definitely a work in progress), but I love his subtle humor and that honorable streak that his conscience won't let him deny. He grows so much over the course of the story, though I loved him from the get-go. Tess, too, is a great character; she's fun without being flighty, sensitive yet sensible. Whether plain or stunning, it's a rare woman who doesn't struggle with feelings of worth, and beautiful Tess is no different. They make a very complementary pair, and it plays out well in everything they do, even in sketching drawings.

There was a lot of food for thought in this book. I loved the analogy of Sabbath rest as a form of tithe. In tithing, one keeps 90% of one's income and gives the Lord 10%, and it is an exercise in trusting the Lord. In the story, Tess says, "It's the same with time. God gives us a week and says, 'Work hard on six days, give me one day for your worship and rest, and trust me to meet your needs out of those six days.' Choosing to rest is an exercise in trust." (location 3375). In fact, the story has a lot of good points about the importance of a day of rest, and in our busy American culture, I think they're more relevant than ever before. Sundin doesn't stop with just the Sabbath, but takes the story further into trusting God even when there seems to be no hope.

A wonderful finale to the series!

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, and all opinions are my own.

[Haley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank Sarah Sundin for holding the giveaway in which I won this book! I was so excited when I got the message from her! I couldn’t wait to read the newest book by her. When the book arrived in my mail box, I couldn’t wait to begin reading it. Then, it was time for my spring break. And, for this year’s spring break, my sisters, Mom, and I traveled 700 miles to our destination. And then 700 miles back. That is when I read one of my newest favorite books—When Tides Turn. It was mostly on the way back home that I read it. And I couldn’t put it down!
I always like the story where the main characters are opposites and can’t stand each other. This story was just like that and I loved it! I mean, I even put down my ice cream to keep reading it. And that is saying something! Nothing can come between me and my ice cream, unless it is absolutely amazing!

I also like all of the historical aspects of the book. They were really interesting! I can’t say they intrigued me more than the romance in the story, but they were still cool!
The cover, unfortunately, was not my favorite. As you know, I don’t really like faces on book covers unless they really fit the story. The cover wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. I will give it 2 stars.

The story, as you can guess, deserves 5 stars! Sarah is a wonderful author! I recommend this book to all readers who enjoyed romance, history, and mystery.

To read my review of the other two books in this series, click on the links!

Through Waters Deep

Anchor in the Storm



Title: When Tides Turn

Author: Sarah Sundin

Author’s Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/

Reading Resolution: #27



This review is written in my own opinions and words.

[Beth | Faithfully Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on Faithfully Bookish http://wp.me/p7ngfE-Gq

Ahoy there! It's the conclusion of the Waves of Freedom series and a fitting finale for these WWII Navy men and women readers have grown to love!

Although she occasionally came across as a bit silly in the previous two books, Quintessa is determined to be more than just a pretty face. Tess is a good girl, she's naturally inclined to follow the rules and shower others compassion and encouragement.

Dan has been an all work and no play kind of man since before he was old enough to be considered a man. Dan is man enough to take a good look at himself and scripture to make sure he is on the right course.

The rich WWII history shines through this entertaining romance. This series is a worthy tribute to those men and women who served our country during the war and those who did all they could to support them.

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through Revell Reads and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, now I'm caught up on Sarah Sundin's books. Yet again, she created two characters that I thought I wouldn't;t love and instead I feel like good friends.
While I don't always love the amount of kissing in her books, Sundin's stories are some of the most God-honoring stories dealing with realistic issues that I've read. This story dealt with the balance of work and play, usefulness and beauty, and sabbath rest.

If you haven't read a book by Sarah Sundin, you might want to give her books a try.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tides Turn is book three from the Waves of Freedom series. I enjoyed this book and getting a glimpse of the WAVES during WWII. I personally was excited to read the parts set in Northern Ireland, where my grandparents met and married my American grandfather was stationed there. This is my favorite of the series.
5 stars.

[Brooklyne E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*steps on stage*
This. book. is. AMAZING! Mrs. Sundin has once again outdone herself! I keep telling my sisters after reading this series that if I could someday write a book that was half as brilliant as this series, then I would be fully content with my accomplishment. I hate picking favorites when it comes to books, but I can, without a doubt, say that this series is my FAVORITE historical fiction series!
*mic drop*

Now for the review...

When Tides Turn follows the story of Tess and Dan as they fight both internal and external currents on their way to seeing how God can "turn" the tides of their lives into something more than either of them could ever imagine. I love the mystery, the depth to the message, and the comradery of friendships. The characters were realistic and the romance was done so well! (They're love story was based off of friendship and also it went deeper than skin deep!! I say "Bravo" from someone who's picky about romance in fiction!) I so appreciate the attention to historical detail and I love learning new things as I read! I especially loved learning about the WAVES program for women!

Characters:

Tess. I got to observe Quintessa from the two prior books in this series, but this was first time I actually got to see who "Tess" was. Based off of her previous relationships, I felt bad for her. But with that history, I could see more clearly why she was so dead set on being useful and not just a ornament. I admire that, and I loved watching her character grow into a genuine encourager who was not self-centered at all. She brought color and energy to the story. *squeals* her and Dan were so perfect for each other!

Dan. Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling *ahem* back to the real Danny in the book... Dan was so serious and dull at the first of the book. But then-- then a certain curly haired blonde brought some color into his overworked, mundane life! Two things I loved about Dan's character, his sketching hobby (sailboats!) and his integrity. He literally stopped himself from doing what he knew would bring him earthly happiness in his career and instead, did what was right and left the judging up to God. Similarly, in real life, God can turn what once seems like plans gone awry into some epic turning of tides! Just, yes, yes, yes! There needs to be more God honoring men in fiction (also Dan had his not so amazing moments which just showed how realistic his character was!) Also, I loved the message of rest that the reader gets when reading from Dan's POV.

I especially loved the glimpse into the other characters from other books! So good!

The mystery was really good. I was slightly confused here and there and I wouldn't say it as exciting as the first two books... but it still made for an exciting ending. One sad part of the book is the Cocoanut Grove Fire. I guess I need to brush up on my history because I was even more saddened when I saw that it was a real event.

Concluding thoughts:

Just go read this series! You won't regret it! The history, the characters, the setting (!), the excitement, and the themes that can seriously be applied to real life. I'm so impressed with Sarah Sundin's writing style and I'm pretty sure my family and friends are tired of hearing me gab about this series!