#4 Historical Romance Kindle Bestseller
A provocative novel that will leave you breathless as it explores the heartaches and triumphs of love. Can a woman’s love really stand the test of time?He left all he loved behind…Will he be able to return and win her heart?An earth-shattering secret revealed in his recently deceased mother’s diary causes harsh words between Noah Garrett and his brother. … earth-shattering secret revealed in his recently deceased mother’s diary causes harsh words between Noah Garrett and his brother. Desolate and totally bewildered, Noah leaves Pilot Isle and has no contact with his family or even Elle Beaumont, the girl who has been his shadow all through childhood.
Now, ten years later, Noah is a renowned biologist and returns to Pilot Isle to head up a research lab. Coming back home opens up old wounds and uncovers buried feelings. Hoping to have a few days to cope with all the old emotions welling up within him, Noah really isn’t ready to face anyone yet. However, it’s just his luck that the first person he literally bumps into is Elle. The only difference is, Elle is no longer a thin red-headed mischievous imp who is constantly in trouble and always needing to be rescued. This Elle is a gorgeous, passionate young woman who sets Noah’s blood on fire.
Marielle Claire Beaumont has loved Noah since she was a child. As a sad little girl who’d recently lost her mother and couldn’t speak English, Elle met Noah when he saved her from taunts at school. Ever since then Elle has loved Noah unconditionally and followed him around like a little puppy. Her world was shattered when he left so suddenly. His silence all these years has been very difficult, and Elle is stunned when she slams into him so unexpectedly. It’s not long before she’s disrupting Noah’s life again as sparks of passion fly in every direction between the two.
One Gorgeous Young, Passionate Woman. One Renowned Biologist. Years of Pent-up Passion…
Get your copy today and discover how love can heal.
“I picked up Tides of Love…just to give the book a quick peak. That quick peak turned into four hours of reading that didn’t stop until I finished the book!”
—The Romance Reader
“Passionate love scenes that leave you breathless and singe your senses. TIDES OF LOVE is one book that will grab you from the first page and not let go till you’ve turned the last. I simply couldn’t put it down.”
—The Best Reviews
“Descriptive flair…give this one a try!”
—All About Romance
“A powerful relationship novel that explores the heartache and triumph of love.”
—Romantic Times
“A beautifully written romance! Sizzling love scenes.”
—Reviewer Carol Carter
Also available on Amazon:
TO SEDUCE A ROGUE, Book One in the Southern Heat Series (TANNER)
TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL, Book Two in the Southern Heat Series (TANNER)
TIDES OF PASSION, Book Two in the Seaswept Seduction Series (ZACH)
more
I loved the time period of the book and I loved the story. It is easy to imagine what Noah felt and went through when he found out about his birth. When his brother took out his anger on him, it drove Noah to run away for 10 years. Because of his job he had to return to his home town and deal with his family and the girl he left behind that was now a woman. Elle’s character was awesome. I loved her spunk, creativity, her drive and her desires to better herself and other women. Noah’s character was difficult in that he kept trying to deny what he felt for Elle. The story dragged out a bit but the overall storyline was excellent. Family dilemmas and childhood best friend turned lover turned into more. I wish the ending has been expanded. Did Elle end up fulfilling her father’s will in regard to her inheritance? It would have been nice to have been privy to the wedding and an epilogue of Elle’s graduation and perhaps a business partnership between Noah and Elle based on their educational goals. And of course, their children. Where did they end up living? Chicago, South Carolina or their home town. Noah’s brothers were down-to-earth, hardheaded and realistic. His nephew, Rory, was adorable. This book has a lot of potential but I loved reading it just the same. I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Although this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I really did enjoy it and I fell in love with Elle. She is a wonderful character—independent, strong, confident, persistent, assertive—and eventually I came around to loving Noah too, but it took a long time. He was just so stubborn and so unwilling to allow himself to feel any emotions. Once he did, though, wow. Tracy Sumner paints a picture of an island village in the late 1890s filled with busybodies and some backward-thinking men (like Elle’s father). I loved that she was a suffragette anyway. Noah, exceptionally smart, was also incredibly dumb in matters of the heart.
There’s a technique that authors use in which they’ll start a chapter in the middle of a conversation and it takes a few minutes to figure out who is talking and what’s going on. Normally, that doesn’t bother me, but I found myself impatient, and occasionally, confused. I suspect it was simply because I was so impatient for Noah to pull his head out of his ass, but I’m not entirely sure so I’m mentioning it. It doesn’t affect my rating of the book.
I was charmed by a scene in which Noah meets Rory for the first time on the beach. Rory just plops himself down on the sand next to Noah, expecting to fish with him, since he sees Noah preparing his lures. Rory asks Noah whether he is his uncle. Noah was unaware that he had a nephew, but as he looks at him, he realizes how much alike they looked. “He felt a sharp prick and looked to find the wire embedded in his palm.” The sentence starts by implying that he felt a prick as he realized he had a nephew, but then it turns out it’s because he stabbed himself with the wire. This serves to disguise whether he actually did feel something emotional because the pain can be easily explained away. It’s the perfect metaphor for how Noah conducts himself, ignoring his internal feelings and substituting logic.
Elle, more emotional and more intuitive than Noah, doesn’t try to hide how she feels about him (most of the time). At one point, he sees her walking and she seems upset so he hurries to catch up with her. She doesn’t know he’s following her, but at a certain point, he gets close and she suddenly stops so he bumps into her. He asks her why she’s so upset and she mentions, “I admit I felt the weight slip from my shoulders the minute you stepped behind me.”
Her words raised the hair on his arms. “Behind you?”
“Oh, Noah.” She laughed, a mix of impishness and frustration. “If you entered a room and the door was behind my back, I would know. I used to sit in school, waiting, The air changed temperature, closed in around me the second you walked in.” She considered a moment, then shrugged. “It still does.”
It isn’t until much, much later that Noah realizes he also feels that for her. He had never allowed himself to acknowledge the connection between them.
There’s another part of the story where Elle and Noah have a silent conversation across a crowded room that is priceless, a perfect encapsulation of communication through body language. I couldn’t read this section without unconsciously participating in the conversation, imagining the facial expressions and hand motions. I’m sure if someone were watching me reading, they’d have wondered what on earth I was doing.
Noah’s charcoal gaze immediately captured Elle’s. He shoved his spectacles up, a scowl crossing his face.
What? Elle shrugged with a passiveness she didn’t feel.
Stop staring.
Me? She patted her chest.
His gaze lowered then jerked to her face. Yes. You.
I’m not staring. Elle gestured to the oblivious, jabbering group of women.
Another way in which Tracy Sumner showed the connection between Noah and Elle was a bit more subtle, but so clever. To understand, it’s important to note that the story is told in third-person alternating POVs, mostly Noah and Elle, but occasionally other characters. It’s hard to convey this in a review, but the transition in this one part was poetic in its composition. It read like this:
Oh, God, he was…
Dying. She was dying.
Having just shared an intimacy neither of them had ever shared with anyone else, both are overwhelmed and feel emotions they never imagined. Although they are each feeling their own emotions, the author smoothly switches from Noah’s feelings to Elle’s and shows how connected they are because they are thinking the same thoughts.
When you read one of Tracy Sumner’s books, you can count on romance with a HEA, but one of the things that makes her stand out above those authors who churn out books based on a clear formula, is that her characters are multidimensional, the plots are unusual, and the prose is multilayered. Along with imaginative and artistic prose, you will find buried metaphors and threads that run through the story, weaving a tapestry that forms something rich and intricate. Reading her books reminds me of reading literature in high school and going through the exercise of picking apart the writing to discover the hidden gems. I find I can do that with Tracy Sumner’s books, putting her in the literary fiction category (as far as I’m concerned).
Ten years ago he left more than two loving brothers.”
Noah Garrett, educator and marine biologist left Pilot Island North Carolina rather than deal with the emotional typhoon that just broke open his whole world. He left his 2 brothers and his best friend Elle Beaumont quietly and never came back…until he was forced to oversee the building and start of a major Marine Biology Lab and came back to the island ,and his past, and deal with them as he may.
His older brother Zach, and middle brother Caleb have never gotten over his choices. But Marielle-Claire Beaumont has never let go of her love for him. And Noah, whose life is charts and tables and things easily quantified, isn’t ready to deal with that…. He returns to find Elle running a school to help women learn for themselves while fighting her own fierce battle with a father whose antiquated ideas of roles and women drives a wedge of determination between he and his only child. He finds Caleb apologizing left and right for driving him away, and Zach grieving his own losses while raising his child. Will all of this stop overwhelming Noah and allow him to truly live?
Set in a major time of change in the US, “Tides of Love” is a thoughtful, tender love story of broken people seeking a way through to their authenticity. Caleb doesn’t want what life handed him, but can he accept and live in the present, the now, rather than the anger producing past? Can he forgive himself? Tracy Sumner has another winner here. Highly recommended.5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author, choosing to read and review it voluntarily]
They are childhood friends and just could not quite make the transition to teen lovers. A lot of family circumstances interfered and they almost lost each other.
I found the ocean and shipwreck portrayals especially interesting.
This book is ultra detailed and worth the wading thru. It is quite believable and also representative of the thought processes and customs of small towns during this period. It is worth the read.
Tides Of Love is a sensual journey of a small-town romance filled with passion and unrequited love. The depth of emotion and tension seared the page. Tracy weaves a unique, descriptive world of growing pains and the path that love takes.
Noah Garrett and Elle Beaumont grow up together on Pilot Isle, NC, in the 1890s. Elle idolizes Noah as her savior and one true love. She is impetuous, outspoken, and chaffs against authority. Noah is methodical, reserved, and has his entire life planned. When a dark secret is revealed regarding Noah’s family, Noah flees. Noah leaves everything behind and becomes a biologist. Due to unexpected circumstances, Noah comes home after ten years. Can Noah mend the rift in his family? The bigger question is will Noah embrace and fight for his love of Elle, or will he let the opportunity of a lifetime pass him?
Noah is extremely stubborn and set in his ways. He has life planned and does not deviate. Noah has become this way out of necessity; he does it to ease the pain of his past. There were times where I became exasperated with Noah and his strict regime. However, I could also relate; we tend to hide behind what is familiar when the unknown disturbs the flow of our journey. I felt a kinship with Elle. I loved her free spirit and her ability to embrace love with all her heart.
This couple could not be more opposite. Yet, those differences transformed into a scorching passion. Elle’s unrequited love was heart-wrenching. Noah’s unwanted desire was visceral. The couple’s passion for each other was all-consuming. Noah and Elle’s turbulent relationship was a journey that compelled and excited the reader. Their happily ever after was hard-fought but well worth the struggle.
The plot unfolded effortlessly and organically. The intricacies of the story were lovingly and meticulously written. The book flowed, and I couldn’t leave it alone. Tides Of Love is the first book in the Garret Brothers series. This series follows the three brothers in search of love and happiness. I loved the era and location; I could easily imagine it. The epic, sweeping feel of the novel excites and intrigues. I enjoyed this book immensely. I can’t wait to read about the other two brothers. This was a fascinating read that I couldn’t let go.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Book Sirens and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a excellent read – a charming, steamy romance set in a small town in the area of Outer Banks NC. Ms. Sumner has created a lively, well written historical romance with realistic characters that make you want to know more about them. Noah and Elle have known each other since school. She has loved him always while he considered her a friend.
The characters are wonderful including Noah’s two brothers Zach and Caleb as well as Zach’s adorable son Rory. This is a stand alone story with no cliffhangers. A strong story and likeable characters. The descriptions of the area and the town are detailed and vibrant.
I highly recommend this book!
Elle has loved Noah since they were children, and he protected her from school bullies. Though her fiercest protector, Noah didn’t return her sentiments. Elle’s world shattered when Noah left Pilot Isle with no word or explanation. Now, ten years later, Noah has returned to head a research lab, and Elle must face her old feelings for the man who left so long ago. Sparks fly as they reconnect, but old family secrets and old hurts, as well as some new obstacles, stand in their way.
This is a great childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, and the budding relationship between Noah and Elle is chemistry-laden, swoon-worthiness. They are complete opposites. Noah is controlled and reserved, and he thrives on order. Ella thrives on chaos and is exuberant and daring. Noah follows the rules; Elle is a rule-breaker. Elle is in touch with her feelings, while Noah completely suppresses his. He is so emotionally withdrawn that he doesn’t even realize his true feelings for Elle for much of the story. He finds it difficult to identify the feelings that he has worked so hard to repress for years. This leads to a lot of angst and sexual tension!
Elle is a wonderful protagonist. She is so free-spirited and ambitious, but she is often degraded for it. Her father and other men in their small town do not approve of her independent ways and her desire for more. Noah, on the other hand, sees her for the intelligent, forward-thinking, and capable woman that she is. Instead of squelching her uniqueness, he embraces, encourages, and supports it. He treats her as an equal, which is something she has not experienced from the other men in her life. The unconditional love that flows between this couple is strong.
Other connections in the story include Noah’s broken relationship with his brothers. Noah’s brothers and his nephew are fantastic and well-developed, and I love how they work to make peace with the past. Each played a role in what happened to their relationship ten years ago, and I admired their willingness to own it. Though they have a lot to work through, their love for each other is clear. In addition to their sibling issues, each brother has his own torments and struggles, and I’m excited to read more about them in future books in the series.
The story also highlights the complexities of family and how one moment can irrevocably change the projection of people’s lives. Messages of forgiveness, acceptance, listening to and understanding others, and embracing those you love are also prominent within the story.
Tides of Love is a great start to what promises to be a wonderful series, and it is a fabulous book for readers who like swoon-worthy, small-town historical romance with great characters and an epic romance. Thanks so much to Tracy Sumner for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
A very good story of three brothers who live on a small island, Pilot Island, in North Carolina. Noah Garrett, the youngest, hasn’t seen his family in ten years until his job asserted its wishes. Nor has he seen Ellie, his childhood friend. Something in his mother’s diary upset him, he had a fight with his brother (Caleb) and left. He was gone ten years until his job asserted its wishes. I thought he was a little childish almost like he was jumping up and down. He wanted his way and no one was changing his mind. Poor Ellie, I am not sure how many times he hurt her. She loved him, but for a while, he wasn’t really with her. I thought she was very brave and kind. I did enjoy the story I just hate it when they (males) threw a tantrum. It was a little slow in a few spots but it still was a good read. I felt bad for Zach he always seemed to be picking his brothers up off the floor. The characters were great even Noah. I really can hardly wait for book two.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Tides of Love is about Noah Garrett who ran from his past and a truth he learned from his mother’s diary after her death. Ten years later his job forced him to return and face his fears. It is also the story of a young woman who hero worshiped Noah because he stood up for her, protected her and taught her to speak English. Both were brilliant with innate curiosity and strong desires to learn everything they could. Tracy Sumner’s descriptive writing makes you hear the ocean, feel the grit of the sand between your toes and the beauty of the sunrise over the ocean. Sumner writes of Elle’s unrequited love for the man who protected her from the schoolyard bullies with sensitivity. For every woman who loved a man who just wasn’t interested, this is a heart warming story of one who woke up and finally came to terms with his own feelings as he made peace with his brothers and childhood friends.
Harsh words spoken in anger caused Noah Garrett to leave his family and his sidekick Elle for ten years. Noah returns and things have changed and Elle Beaumont is now a stunning woman!
The fireworks that erupt between the two and the miscommunication is humorous! The other characters round out the storyline perfectly!!!
The author writes with such expressive feeling one can feel the magnetism that flows throughout the book!
I definitely would recommend all three of the Garret brothers books!
I received a free copy from BookSirens and these are my willing given thoughts and opinions.
“Tides of Love” is book 1 in the Garrett Brothers Trilogy, and I enjoyed it so much that I read the other 2 in quick succession. Book 2 is “Tides of Passion” and books is “Tides of Desire.” You can definitely enjoy each as a stand-alone, but the characters are so good that I urge you to read them all, like I did. This series is set at the end of the 19th century, a dynamic time period when women were struggling for the right to vote and to be treated as equals to men. The stories take place in a small island town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The author brings it to life so clearly you can practically smell the wharf and feel the breeze that sometimes blows in off the ocean.
“Tides of Love” focuses on brilliant Noah Garrett, who had a fight with one of his brothers when a family secret was revealed to them all, and took off from home at the age of 17 as a result. A decade later, his career as a marine biologist bring him back to town although he really doesn’t want to go there and have to deal with his family. Elle, the girl who adored him, is also still there. She is now a woman devoted to bettering herself and other women as well. Noah tries to fight his feelings for Elle so much that you want to reach into the book and shake him, even though he is also wonderful. Of course, that makes the HEA even more satisfying, though. Early in the book I did find myself struggling to understand what had gone on between the brothers. If you experience that as well, hang in there because this book and the trilogy are worth it.
The Southern Belle and the Scientist.
Book 1 of the Garret Brother’s series. Tides of Love tells Noah Garret’s story. It is the late 1890’s on the coast of North Carolina. Noah Garret is a scientist deeply involved in his experiments. A secret is revealed about his mother and the Garret brother’s birthright which lead him to leave town. Noah’s childhood friend Elle Beaumont is devastated. Elle has been in love with Noah since they were kids however, Noah never paid her any mind. A few years later, Noah returns and he notices Elle has grown up to be a beautiful woman. However, Elle has moved on to live her life and tries to forget Noah. Can Noah get back Elle’s devotion? You will have to read the book to find out. lol. I enjoyed this story very much. It was well-written with interesting characters and steamy love scenes. Elle was strong, confident, and independent. I love the fact that Elle matures and gives up on Noah after he keeps ignoring her. Even though she hero worshiped him for most of her life. lol. Noah was such a science nerd and a pain. He saw everything in figures and formulas. He was so frustrating. I wanted Elle to smack him upside his head sometimes. lol. I also loved reading the beginning of Caleb’s and Macy’s story. I have read three (Maybe four) books by this author and have loved them all. I’ve even signed up for her newsletter to read more of her books. I am a fan. I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the story and characters were well written but it felt more contemporary to me than historical. Elle was the winning force for me in this story, she was such a firebrand you couldn’t help rooting for her all the way back to university. A great love story between her and Noah.
Noah has always been protective of Elle. At the age of 17, he suddenly left town. Elle was confused by his sudden departure. It wasn’t until 10 years later he returned home.The romance slowly builds , their connection real. A story of love lost and second chances.
Kimberly Wetherell narration is very good. audiobookobsessionreviewer
Tides of Love: Noah, an intelligent and handsome marine biologist and the youngest Garrett brother, left his two brothers and his best friend, Elle, behind. Will he be able to return and win Elle’s heart? – This book was very frustrating. I thought Noah and Elle would never get on the same page. It was slow in many places, and I do not find biology that interesting. I loved what Noah called Elle during passion, and I loved them together. I also enjoyed Noah’s brothers and nephew.
Brothers ripped apart because of secrets revealed in a diary and a young girl’s heart left broken. I really did enjoy this story and although some parts were a bit long and repetitive, it was worth the read! My heart truly hurt for both Noah and Elle, for what had to happen before they found their HEA.
I loved that their characters were so different, it made for very interesting confrontations and even if Noah fought it all the way, the undeniable sexual desire between them was hot, hot, hot!! After being gone for 10 years, he returns home to find Elle a grown woman but he has no intention of getting involved with her even though she has never stopped loving him. She has other plans, though, and I knew right from the start that he had no chance of “just being friends”! lol
It was also heartwarming to see the broken relationship between the 3 brothers get repaired after being apart for 10 years. A lot of hurt had to be worked through! I was a bit irritated at Noah’s stubbornness at times but when he finally comes to his senses, all is forgiven:)
I now look forward to reading Zach’s story!!!
Tides Of Love by Tracy Sumner is a fairly short historical romance, perfect for those with limited reading time. Ms. Sumner has delivered a well-written book populated with fantastic characters. Noah is a biologist and returns home to North Carolina to see to the construction of a new lab. Elle loved Noah before he left the island. Elle and Noah’s story is packed with drama, humor, spice and a touch of suspense. I enjoyed reading Tides Of Love and look forward to reading more from Tracy Sumner. Tides Of Love is book 1 of the Garrett Brothers Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
This is a whole saga written into one book and really well too. The characters sizzle, what they get up to and how they conduct themselves is amazing, the passion is a burning flame and I loved it all.
Kimberly M. Wetherell is a voice actor to listen to. She has total command and control over her voice and uses it very successfully to enhance this lovely love story.
Well done to two amazingly talented people.
I requested and listened to the audiobook and my voluntary and unbiased review is recorded above.
some of the scene transitions were very abrupt.
even though I loved the characters and the plot, I could have did without such steamy love scenes.