The Storm Beyond The Tides

by Jonathan Cullen

July 1939. War is on the horizon but on Monk Island, Maine life goes on as usual. As the daughter of a lobsterman, Ellie Ames’ future seems limited until a mysterious German couple comes off the ferry with their nineteen-year-old son. From the moment she meets Karl Brink, the two become inseparable and not everyone approves because locals are suspicious of outsiders. Ellie ignores their scorn, however, and the secret she learns about Karl’s family makes her even more determined to be with him.

The magical summer ends when the Brinks suddenly have to go home. And although Karl promises to return in the fall, by then Europe is at war. Two years pass and Ellie has all but given up hope when she gets a letter in the mail that will change her life forever.

The Storm Beyond The Tides is the story of the unlikely romance between a small-town girl and a German on the eve of the Second World War and explores a frightening time in America’s past—when U-Boats prowled the East Coast and put small, coastal communities on the frontline of a global conflict.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, World War II, Adult

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2019

Reviews

[Kymm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read for me. I enjoyed the story of Elie Ames who lives on Monk Island, Maine with her family during WWII. Prior to the war a stranger, Karl Brink comes to the island and captures her heart, but he's German and with the impending war with Germany he isn't well received by others. Elie and Karl begin making plans for their future, when Karl and his family lose their visas and must return to Germany. Elie is heartbroken and vows to wait for his return. The war begins and Karl finds himself in the middle of it. Meanwhile, on Monk Island they're preparing for possible U-Boat attacks along their coast. Elie's love for Karl doesn't waver during his time away, although she can't say if she'll ever see him again. The story is a little about WWII, but deals more with Elie and what her life becomes after Karl leaves. The author did a really good job with his character development. They're written in such a way as to draw the reader into the story. The book flowed nicely and the story was very enjoyable. I'd never heard of this book or it's author prior to getting this one on Kindle Unlimited. I love reading books I've never heard of or by authors that are new to me. This is more of a love story than a story about WWII, it captured me from page 1 and I couldn't put it down. Just a good book with a nice love story that happens to take place during WWII. I'd recommend this to any reader who likes a good story with a historical fiction feel. Happy Reading!

[Rick Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent!

Jonathan Cullen has written a thoroughly engrossing novel; one that immediately transports the reader to an island off the coast of Maine and into the lives of its residents. Historically accurate, it begins with rumblings of war in Europe and how the ensuing conflict affects the them and their island home. Beautifully written and tremendously satisfying. Bravo!

[Amanda s · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you to the author who gave me this book!

This one took me a little bit to get into but I did enjoy it. I plan on getting myself a paper copy and reading it vs. Listening to the audio book.

[Paula Weisberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5
Interesting portrayal of Maine island life around WW2 time but pretty predictable and too neatly pulled together at the end. We did have a pretty good Book Club discussion about it.

[AJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is adequate. Felt forced and formulaic. Story predictable. Could not connect to characters.

[Patricia McAlexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this novel because I am interested in romance and World War II. The plot begins with a 1939 summer romance between Ellie, a girl from a poor family in Monk Island off the coast of Maine, and Karl, son of a German couple who visit the island in hopes of staying in the United States due to the father’s anti-Nazi activities. They cannot find a sponsor, and at the end of the summer must return to Germany. Karl and Ellie do not even have a chance to say goodbye. As the war years go by, Karl, who is now in the German Navy, manages to get a letter to Ellie saying he will return. Ellie has begun dating Ben, the young man who works for her father. Ben finds Karl’s letter and turns it over to military authorities. Is Ben a sympathetic character or a bad guy? I felt sympathy for him, the poor boy from the north of the island. As his employer, Ellie’s fisherman father is very hard on him, and Ben just accepts the abuse. Also, he is very patient with Ellie as she keeps her distance from him over so much time. Meanwhile Karl, on a U-boat crew, hopes to escape from his boat to return to Ellie as, guided by Karl, it approaches the coast off Monk Island.

It’s a good plot, but the author perhaps needed a woman to help with the sections about Karl and Ellie’s summer romance. I had just read an excellent romance by a woman which portrayed the experience of falling in love so well. In contrast, Cullen’s description of the love relationship seems just factual. To have rendered their love more convincingly would have enhanced the rest of the novel. However, the plot does become exciting; Cullen excels in describing Karl’s experience on the U-boat and his plans to escape. Also Cullen’s knowledge of history seemed solid.

(Spoiler alert in the following). I had to read closely to figure out what happened in the end, and the ending raised some questions for me. But it seems Ellie’s father, portrayed in the first part of the book as the evil father trying to prevent Ellie from being with a “Kraut,” changes his mind when Ellie finally tells him Karl and his family were anti-Nazi. (Why didn’t she tell him sooner?) Thus, when he discovers Ben about to turn the escaped Karl in, he kills Ben to save Karl and helps Karl escape—but he never tells Ellie. Karl remains in hiding until the end of the war in Europe. Later, when he and Ellie are reunited and Karl tells her the story, he says maybe her father (who has died) was afraid to tell her of Karl's escape, but that needs more explanation, I think. The novel also needed a little proofreading (the proofeditor’s fault?)—there were a few typos and grammar errors (Laying on his side, he…. She knew her father and him were….). Still, I enjoyed the novel and read eagerly to the end, hoping it would be happy.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

More and more when I read novels set during the era of WWII, I am seeking ones that explore life on the home front, rather than in the occupied territories. Mainly because I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction and as with any topic, I like a bit of variation. The Storm Beyond the Tides is set on an island off the coast of Maine, USA.

Surprisingly (to me), there are actually quite a few islands off the coast of Maine (about a dozen). I find that lifestyle quite interesting to read about, employment obviously dominated by fishing and lobster catches, as well as tourism. But I expect the lifestyle is fraught with economic concerns, being both small in community size and isolated on account of being islands. Jonathan Cullen recreates this atmosphere and taps into island life quite comprehensively throughout this novel and I enjoyed this rich sense of atmosphere immensely. It was like I was not only stepping back through time, but also visiting a place I knew very little about.

Prior to reading this, I had no idea that these Maine Islands were so involved in WWII. Not only were there military bases there, but German U-Boats within range. And this is what home front WWII fiction can bring to readers – a whole new perspective on the ‘world’ part of WWII. It was all quite fascinating but equally as grave and the sacrifice that communities within these small islands made cannot be overstated and nor should it be forgotten.

“Ellie Ames,” he said bitterly. “The only girl on Monk Island who would go with a Kraut, but not a local.”

Whilst romance provides the catalyst for many events throughout the novel, I wouldn’t pin this story down as a mere war time romantic tale. It has a lot more substance than that and explores many themes around discrimination and tolerance, socioeconomic imbalances, and family obligation. Karl’s story also offers a perspective on German resistance to the rise of Nazism.

‘A few weeks before she had cursed God and she now found herself thanking him. Someone had been taken from her, but someone was returned and in an instant, her faith in the world was restored.’

Anyone with a interest in historical fiction set in the WWII era will appreciate this novel and if you’re looking for a fresh perspective, a view on the era from a new location, then The Storm Beyond the Tides would be an ideal read for you. It has wide appeal and is a very engaging read.

Thanks is extended to the author for providing me with a copy of The Storm Beyond the Tides for review.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timeless novel about love and loss on a Maine island at the onset of WWII. A story of an unlikely romance between a small town girl and a German on the eve of the Second World War and explores a frightening time in America's past-when U-Boats prowled the East Coast and put small, coastal communities on the frontline of a global conflict. In July 1939, war is on the horizon but on Monk Island, ME, life goes on as usual. As the daughter of a lobsterman, Eleanor "Ellie" Ames' future seemed limited until a mysterious German couple comes off the ferry with their son. From the moment she meets Karl Brink, the two become inseparable and not everyone approved because locals are suspicious of outsiders. Ellie ignores their scorn, however, and the secret she learns about Karl's family makes her even more determined to be with him. The magical summer ends when the Brinks suddenly have to go home. And although Karl promises to return, by then Europe is at war and Karl enlists in the Kriegsmarine or German Navy. Two years pass and Ellie has all but given up hope when she gets a letter in the mail that will change her life forever. In the 1930s, many Germans-especially Jewish people and political dissidents or anti Nazis came to America to escape government oppression. They were the subject of suspicion and discrimination during the war. The Second Happy Time was the informal name for Operation Drumbeat, a phase in the Battle of the Atlantic during which Axis submarines attacked merchant shipping and Allied naval vessels along the East coast of North America. It lasted for 8 months in 1942 including Operation Neuland. The US dealt with the sinkings with a combination of secrecy and misleading propaganda. They didn't want the details of the sunken U-Boats to be made public lest the information aid the enemy. All citizens who witnessed the sinkings were asked to help keep the secrets safe. Casco Bay in Maine was the nearest American anchorage to the Atlantic Lend-Lease convoy routes to Britain prior to US involvement in the war. The U-130 was involved and sank a few ships.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot!

This story about the romance between a young German man and American woman during WWII in a coastal town in Maine has an original plot and was well worth reading. With all the events in Hitler 's Germany causing such pain and strife for Germans who defied Nazi-ism and the run-up to WWII, this unlikely romance is tested in all fronts.

The character descriptions and development is well done. I felt the hardness of life on a small island where being a lobsterman or fisherman was made very real as did living in such a small community. The prejudices against Germans was real and I could understand it well given the politics of the day. It's an unfortunate reminder of ethnic and cultural ignorance that thrives during wartime. We see enough of it to this very day.

There was some dragging portions in the reading and a bit of repetitiveness which took away from the storyline somewhat, but overall a great plot. The evolving relationship between the young woman, Ellie, and her father was well described and ended in a summation of redemption and forgiveness. My only thought is the unresolved murder. That part was a little untidy given circumstances.

I will definitely recommend to readers of historical fiction and romance. And I plan to read more from this author.

[virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good, quick WW2 love story which wraps vivid settings, believable characters, and painful historical details into one crafty, ‘un-put-downable’ WW2 romance, you will enjoy The Storm Beyond the Tide. It is the story of a poor fisherman’s daughter, Elle Ames, who lives on Monk Island in coastal Maine with her fisherman father and family, who meets a German boy, Karl Brink, vacationing with his Anti-Nazi professor father and mother, who hope to extend their visas to stay in America, during the fateful summer of 1939. At a time when Hitler’s Horror is already capturing US headlines, Cullen’s story will send you splashing through the storm-tossed waters of coastal Maine during a period in our history where prejudice and suspicion were fish served up daily in US cities as the US prepared for WW2.

I love a good quick WW2 read and hoped to find a new author I hadn't read before. I wasn't disappointed when I discovered this novel in Jonathan Cullen’s, Shadows of Time Series.

The setting had me wandering the tidal backwaters, the brackish coves, the sunlit beaches, and salivating over the lobster references as summer memories worked their magic in my brain. The setting was enriched by the pre-war angst of Elle, a young girl who grew up on Monk Island, a ferry ride from the ‘big city’ in Portland. The romance between Elle and Karl pulled me into a what I refer to as well-researched historical fiction, with a sprinkling of romance as the pair embark inside a forbidden love story, both too young to understand the political implications. Using the Forbidden Romance trope which pulled me into the story to start, I quickly became immersed in the fast moving, even paced, narrative which kept me engrossed in the plot well into the night. Karl's father, an anti-Nazi German professor, the opposite of Elle’s rigid father, a down-on-his luck and oftentimes shady fisherman, sucked me in like melted butter on a lobster claw.

As the romance unfolds, the reader is greeted by the impossible situation many Germans faced as Hitler’s menace set the world on fire. As the lovers’ worlds collide, and Karl’s father struggles to get a sponsor for his visa to keep the family safe in America, Elle is falling hopelessly in love with Karl, as Ben, his father’s partner and the story’s troublemaker who falls for Elle, begins to set in motion all the back-handed jealousy and vengeful traps, a romance reader comes to hope for when choosing a romance novel. What would a romance novel be without a jealous back-stabbing rival for the hero or heroine’s attentions?

As the winds of war echo from across the pond, and Karl must return to Germany at the height of Hitler’s madness, he is forced to join the Nazi submariner division of Hitler’s war machine, but, ready, willing, and able to defect. As the suspense mounts, leaving both Elle and Karl on opposite sides of a world in conflict, the story’s ending borders on the unbelievable. A few side stories peppered throughout the intrigue, reveal to what extent Ben will go to win Elle’s heart, a match we first believe Elle’s father is hoping will finally settle his daughter down. The complex layer of conflict Ben brings to the story kept me reading, as family secrets are revealed amid the military coastal buildup on Monk’s Island as family truths and sorrows are revealed and friends are found.

Rich in historical details and shimmering with beach scenes, the only negative I found was, the love story needed a push in the romance writing, oftentimes coming through as flat and drifting. Although well-written, the story had a few editing errors which didn’t detract from the story or the plotline. I found myself enjoying a new author. At times the romance felt like Swiss cheese with a few holes in it. Although a heartfelt romantic story which ultimately provides a HEA, there were some loose plot ends I won’t discuss as they would spoil the read for others. Often, the romance lacked the steam necessary to fuel a romance lover’s locomotive. But what was missing in overt romantic interludes, the author made up for with historical authenticity and a breezy, ‘I-can’t-put-this-down’ suspenseful love story. Rich and colorful in detail, the characters came to life as if I was walking the craggy shores of Monk Island and summering in coastal Maine in 1939 with all the innocence of a young girl in love with a man, many saw as the enemy.

The book was layered beautifully with just the appropriate mosaic of backstories woven throughout, as the plot points moved the story along quickly. The angst the islanders and the German Brink family felt as war drew near, was credible. The historical retelling poured through the book like the German war machine ploughed through Europe in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.

I was so surprised at the simplicity of the writing, the moving plot, and the believable characters, I read the rest of the books in the series over the next two days. I enjoyed the novel. To weave a Forbidden Romance inside a horrific period in world history, left me begging for more. Give it a go. It’s an easy, breezy beach/mountain vacay read, filled with plotline pleasure. Spoiler Alert: Book should be marketed as historical romantic suspense. Although the story meets the criteria for the romance genre, providing the genre necessary HEA, the story is more a cross-pollination of suspense, history, and romance, but nonetheless enjoyable.

[Virginia Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The major characters in The Storm Beyond the Tides came primarily from two families:

One family was named Brink. This family involved a German professor (Niklaus Brink) who had previously taught at the University of Maine.

As this book opens, Professor Brink had returned to the US in 1939 with wife (Hilde) and his son (Karl). During this return visit, the Brink family resided on Monk Island which was just a ferry boat ride from Portland Maine. Professor Brink made this return visit to the US because he secretly hoped to gain a permanent visa because it was no longer safe for him to live in Germany. This was because his anti-Nazi activities had drawn the ire of German authorities.

Unfortunately, he failed in his effort to obtain a permanent visa because he did not obtain the necessary paperwork naming an acceptable sponsor within the established time limits. Therefore, the family had to return to Germany at the height of Hitler’s madness. As a result, Professor Brink “disappeared” shortly after that return, and was never heard from again.

After their return to Germany, his son Karl Brink was forced to join the Nazi submarine division of Hitler’s army. For all practical purposes, this ended Karl’s dream of returning to America so that he could marry a girl he had met during their stay on Monk Island. She was the love of his life and he had promised to return to her.

The other family was the Ames family. This family had lived on Monk Island for several generations.

Jack, the head of the family, was a rigid individual who was a down-on-his luck lobster fisherman. He had once possessed his own lobster boat, but he had lost that boat due to some illegal activities and now he worked on another boat for an absentee owner This meant that every lobster he caught was legally the property of the owner; however, ever so often Jack gave in to the temptation of pocketing some extra cash by selling some of the lobsters on the black market. (This sort of activity was referred to locally as “shacking” and legally was punishable as an act of felony.)

Jack Ames had two daughters.

Mary, his youngest daughter, was crippled as a result of a bout with polio. Jack had never recovered from the guilt he felt about the day she contracted that disease. He had accompanied her to the coast but after drinking with some friends, he forgot about his responsibility for her well-being and allowed her to wander into some shallow infected waters.

The guilt about what had happened to Mary seemingly caused him to become alienated from his oldest daughter named Eleanor - Elle for short. He had once been very close to her but now his relationship with Elle appeared cold and uncaring. Elle was a remarkable young girl. She worked hard, loved Mary, and contributed to her family in many ways.

All of the male citizens of Monk Island had retained their hatred of the Germans as a carry-over from WWI. This mean that as Elle and Karl developed a relationship - the other residents of Monk Island looked upon them with contempt, but Elle ignored their scorn.

A final very important character in the story is Ben Frazier. Ben had never known his own father and had been raised in the poorer section of the Monk Island community. But, for Jack Ames, Ben Frazier was the son he never had and he treated Ben as if were a member of their family. He mentored Ben in lobster fishing and eventually made him his business partner. Predictably, Ben falls in love with Elle and when his love is not reciprocated, he eventually becomes the troublemaker in our story and backstabs the Ames’ family.

I really enjoyed this book. One thing that I always hope to acquire as I read a historical fiction novel is a way to to build upon my historical knowledge. This book accomplished that in two ways.

The book added to my knowledge of the undesirable life of the sailors on board a submarine.

Secondly and more importantly, this book included details about how WWII impacted the personal war-time miseries of all the residents of the coastal communities on the eastern seaboard of Maine.

Before I read this book, I really had little or no knowledge of what was meant when the book referred to the German "U boats." So I surfed the web to increase my knowledge. I have since discovered that the German U-boats, were similar to the American submarines but had a number of considerably more advanced features than our submarines.

The German engineers had designed a submarine that was tiny enough to navigate the shallow coastal waters in and around the numerous Maine islands. Moreover, the U boats possessed both maneuverability and the ability to dive quickly to avoid detection. Thus, the islanders always had to be on alert every day for spies coming ashore from the U boats.

This constant threat was something I had never realized that the people in Maine faced. Now, I was in grade school during the WWII and my mother and daddy were both active in our civil defense activities – but it was in anticipation possible attacks by German bombers -- never dreaming of the possibility of a German spy sneaking into our own back yard.

Further, I am truly surprised that I was so ignorant of this situation especially since (a) my favorite genre is historical fiction, (b) History was my college major - with an emphasis on American history, and (c) every single twig of my family tree involves folks who descended from ancestors living close to Maine in either Canada or one of other states of New England.

As another reviewer saia, the U-boat gave the people who lived on Monk Island the sense that insofar as this war – Maine was a part of the “world” when we called it WWII.

This book was an easy read and I enjoyed it very much. It will never be consider a classic, but I became involved in the twists of their circumstances and was able to have empathy with the ups and downs of their lives.

[Mary Sue Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

I never realized how WW2 affected the state of Maine. This novel about a family living on an island near Portland, gives a new perspective to the war years. It is a well written story of survival, love and regrets. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Betty Lee Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read in years!

A love story with so many twists and turns. You never knew where the story was goi ng next. It had an unexpected ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story of .love, war and redemption.

[Susan Finklestein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

I felt like I was there. Loved learning about life in the villages around Maine during WWII. The authors words kept me intrigued till the end.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unoccupied Coast Guard tower looms over the coast line of a town close to mine, the subject of many conversations over the years, questions about its background and use during WW II, proof that these small towns needed protection from German U-boats. Knowing a bit about this, I enjoyed Jonathan Cullen's novel about the people of Monk's Island, Maine, during WW II, when a military base was built there, putting them in the middle of a war they thought would not touch them. The challenging life of fishermen and lobstermen, the isolation of those living on the island, and the expectations and disappointments of people who have barely survived the Depression years are woven into a well-told story of family, friendship and love.

A significant story line involved a German professor who had previously taught at the University of Maine returning to the island with his family in 1939, hoping to gain a permanent visa to the US. Their story, the father's "disappearance," is not a new one, but in Cullen's hands, follows different paths, bringing the reader back to Karl Brink and Ellie Ames, unlikely lovers, whose story left me feeling very hopeful about the way things can turn out.

[Sandra Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this novel as a gift from my niece, and I truly enjoyed reading this story. Though it's a love story between two young people, it's set in a time and place of national uncertainty. The locale held this story in its conflict and storyline with Monk Island another character in the novel. The author's descriptions made me feel as if I were there in the humid summers and harsh winters. This story would make a great movie. The descriptions of Karl's life is Germany and at war were eye-opening.

The only reason I did not give this book a rating of 5 is because Karl never revealed what happened to his father and mother, or at least his attempts to find out as the war with Germany ended. Or, perhaps, his whereabouts as a German deserter needed to be vieled; however, the reader knows how much he cared about his parents. At war's end, he could have at least called his mother in Switzerland. Also, I especially appreciated the struggle and turns in Ellie's relationship with her father within this story. Highly recommend this work of absorbing historical fiction.

[Melonie Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book—it was captivating and hard to put down. The story kept me hooked from the very beginning with its emotional depth and beautiful setting.

The only part that left me a little disappointed was how Karl’s parents seemed to vanish from the story. After his mother is dropped off at his aunt’s house, we never hear about her again. There’s no follow-up, no reflection, and no mention of what happens to her. As for his father, we can assume what might have happened, but it’s never fully addressed. I wish there had been more detail or even just Karl thinking or asking about them—it felt like an important emotional thread that was left hanging.

Still, the book was a compelling and moving read, and I’d definitely recommend it to others.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It takes place before and during WW2. The setting is on the home front of Monk Island , Maine rather than the occupied territories as most WW2 books are, which for me, was a refreshing and welcomed change. I didn't realize that Maine's islands were involved with WW2 with its military bases. A sweet romance plays a role in this novel. There were themes, such as tolerance, discrimination and family obligations in this book too. Cullen was a new author for me and I would like to read other books that he has written.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am struggling with this book. On page 103 and may not finish. I chose it because of the Maine connection but some of the inaccuracies are making me crazy. The author repeatedly refers to the First World War in the section set in 1939. The Great War didn’t become WW1 until there was a WW2. Jack’s lobster boat is referred to as a sloop. A sloop is a single masted sailboat with one headsail. Jack’s boat has an inboard engine and so far no references to setting sail. A good editor should have caught those errors.

[Dbs1975]

Big disappointment. Characters one dimensional - not well developed at all. Sense of place was just not there - I never felt like I was in Maine during WWII. Also clearly either not well researched or not well edited as evidenced by the comment that Kate didn't want to stay on the island to give flu shots to islanders. Only problem is flu shots were not readily given to civilians in the 1940s.

[Rebecca.e.carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

Reflected life in Maine realistically. The personalities of the characters draw you in. The storytelling is excellent. I like how the heroine of the story doesn't get everything perfect and doesn't overcome everything in her life. How people are not completely bad or completely good in this book. The characters seem simple at first, but then you realize they are actually very complex. There's not always a clear-cut bad guy or a good guy.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep waiting for the story to begin. The writer is constantly building but not engaging me into a worthwhile story even halfway into it. I could skip to maybe halfway through and not miss the initial build-up. It's too herky-jerky for me. It jumps around with flashbacks not well placed or worked in. Amateur writing. I keep wondering whats the point of the story. Characters are weak.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I loved that it was primarily primarily a story if two people, from two different backgrounds separated by war and for the most part took place in Maine and elaborated on how the islands off of Maine’s coast during WWII became military bases to protect against German U-boats.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction taking place on an island off the coast of Maine. Depicts the everyday lives of shop keepers, fishermen, young adults, a family struggling to survive on a lobstering salary, the lives of German immigrants, and Germans at war. There is also a love story. This book appears to be little known , but I enjoyed it as much as I have, any historical fiction book of its times.

[Jessica Risser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book that deserves more like a 3.5. I give it that instead of a 4 because at times I wanted more depth to the story or the characters. I did love the story though time, about families and love.

[Monica Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, easy, heartfelt story about life on Monk Island, Maine, before the start of WWII. The pull of this small islands residents to witness a bigger world despite the risks of the times provided a hopeful and rich reading experience.

[Oceantide74 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy, I was disappointed by this book. To be honest, I was surprised the author was male. It read more like a historical fiction chick lit book. There wasn’t much in the character development. However, I did enjoy the descriptions of the Maine coast.

[Kathy Schouten · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I enjoyed this book about coastal Maine during WWII. A lot of information about the life of fishermen and their families on Monk Island and their response to a threat of invasion from German U boats. Karl’s experiences in Germany and on a sub were also interesting.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

This was a great read. The story is wonderful and keeps the reader engaged. There is some repetition within the text that drove me a little nuts, some details that were repeated over and over again.

[Deb Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different type of WW2 story. The teen perspective from an island in Maine after an encounter with a German peer sets the foundation for this story. An interesting plot, like-able characters, along with twists and turns, kept me reading.