Storm Tide (Tide Trilogy)

Elizabeth Ogilvie’s second novel in her Tide Trilogy finds Joanna Bennett exactly where we left her in the first book of the series. It felt like a seamless story that required no time to re-enter--no significantly elapsed time, no gaps to fill. The breezes of the island began to blow, but this time they built themselves into gales, and they were gales of a personal, internal nature.

It was satisfying to see where Joanna was off to, and while things were left in a very positive light at the end of the first novel, there was struggle ahead, which makes for a more interesting story and a more realistic one as well. After all, Shakespeare has already assured us

for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The show more course of true love never did run smooth;

And who would Elizabeth Ogilvie be to deny that?

I am thoroughly enjoying these books, and having a little crush on Nils, the handsome and strong Swede, who never has to raise his voice to be heard. I have grown fond of many of the salty characters on Bennett’s Island, Maine and love having a glimpse of what life would have been in such a remote place in the 1940s.

We leave the Bennetts and Sorensons as America enters the Second World War, with Stevie, the youngest brother, off to the Philippines. I cannot help thinking the next book will be a heartbreaker. show less

Let's get this out of the way first: a good deal of the subtext (and some just plain text) is about a woman learning her place. As in: yes, Joanna, the lead character learns how to be a good little woman and submit to her man. Okay, fine, yes. BUT, for me, it was more about Joanna relearning how to love.

I sometimes struggle with second books in a trilogy, as they frequently feel like filler. This doesn't have much action, but it deepens our knowledge of the characters in a really wonderful way.

And it is a really beautiful love story.