“Roseanna did an excellent job capturing the beauty of both our coast and our culture.”

Review by AnnaScott Cross

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn’t count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive?

As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to two periods fraught with peril in this sweeping and romantic dual-time tale.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.

This book was a surprise.

It takes place in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which I loved. Since I live in North Carolina, it was fun to already be familiar with many of the towns mentioned, and I loved learning about Ocracoke’s role in World War II. Roseanna did an excellent job capturing the beauty of both our coast and our culture.

The plot was captivating. There is a split timeline, which threw me off a bit, but once I figured out who was who (and when they lived), I devoured it. The tie-ins between the two timelines were perfect, and I was kept on my toes guessing the outcome until the very end of the book.

The characters: this is where I feel like Roseanna shines, because she always does such a good job creating characters that feel three dimensional and real. These characters were especially interesting. They know code breaking, and speak multiple languages, and take exceptional care of their neighbors. This time, her characters also highlight the injustice of interracial marriage laws in America at the time, and prompt discussions on interracial marriage, the definition of family, and the importance of love. The only downside is that, because of the split timeline, it was a bit harder to get to know the main characters, especially Sterling and Rem.

Overall, this book was a surprise. I have read quite a few of Roseanna’s books, as she is one of the few Christian authors whose books I consistently love, and this one was a surprise. The dual timelines and American setting were both different from her previous books, and in narrative structure and writing style it almost felt more like Amanda Dykes (who I also love). Once I got used to the differences, though, I devoured this book.

Content Ratings:

3. Mild action (common injuries with some details). 

2. Mild content (holding hands and mild kissing).

1. Infrequent substitute cursing (less than 10 "craps" etc. and/or book specific words). 

Other Trigger Warnings:

N/A

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