Gorgeous Quintessa Beaumont is tired of being valued for nothing but her looks, and, determining to do her part in the war, joins the newly established WAVES. Lieutenant Dan Avery, married to the navy, has no desire to be distracted by a beautiful woman like Tess--they're only trouble. All he wants is to get back to sea the moment his desk duty is up. But when Tess is assigned to his office and he really gets to know the woman beneath the beautiful facade, his well-laid plans start to steer off course . . .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! 5 stars!
Thank you Revell and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, and all opinions are my own.
Waves of Freedom
1. Through Waters Deep
2. Anchor in the Storm
3. When Tides Turn
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