Book Review: Tides of Passion by Tracy Sumner

About the Book:

Title: Tides of Passion

Author: Tracy Sumner

Series: Seaswept Seduction Series #2

Page Length: 270

Publication Date: Sept. 2020

Synopsis: Steamy, small-town, enemies to lovers historical romance!

Spirited Savannah Connor is passionately committed to stamping out social injustice. Yet, when she arrives in Pilot Isle, North Carolina, ready to take up a new cause, she quickly finds herself on the outs with the town constable.

Zachariah Garrett is the most arrogant, infuriating, maddeningly attractive man she’s had the misfortune to meet. And, suddenly, Savannah is fighting a whole new battle — this one against her own yearning for a man who is impossible to resist.

Ever since his wife’s death two years ago, Zachariah Garrett has dedicated his life to keeping the peace. And, avoiding love. But Savannah Connor isn’t an ordinary woman — and she proves hard to ignore. She’s a beguiling beauty with the power to awaken emotions Zach thought he’d never feel again, and the tenderness to help him forget his fears. And risk his heart once more.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

Zach is the oldest Garrett brother, a constable raising his young son on his own since the death of his wife and baby. Everyone knows this grief-stricken man will never marry again, including Savannah. Savannah came to town to take over for Elle, and she spends her days fighting against social injustice. When these two cross paths, sparks fly.

Savannah and Zach are such complex and dynamic characters, and their romance is swoon-tastic!! This is a total opposites-attract love affair, and it totally works. Savannah is a northern city girl, and Zach is a southern country boy. She’s passionate about fighting for the rights of women, even when it gets her in trouble with the law. He’s the town Constable. They have every reason to clash, but instead, they connect on a deep and passionate level. Though they initially agree to have a relationship with no strings attached, it’s pretty clear from the beginning that their relationship is so much more than that.

Love is a grand leap off a cliff without anything to soften the fall.

Savannah is very independent and never saw love in her future until she met Zach. He shows her the promise of a future with him and his family, something she’s never had before. I love how they feel about each other and how they work through their misgivings and fears. Savannah, for example, has never felt part of a loving family, and she is surprised when she is so willingly welcomed into the Garrett family’s folds. She is also not overly comfortable with children and worries because Zach has a young son.

Zach, in turn, struggles so much with his feelings. Grief for the loss of his wife and child, guilt for moving on and finding happiness, fear of losing someone else he loves, as well as feeling unworthy of love. Zach has had a lot of responsibility in his life, and Savannah makes Zach feel like himself. He doesn’t have to be the constable or the calm voice of reason. With her, he can just be himself. Zach comes to realize that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting the past or the love he had for his wife.

“I’m excited about being Zach Garrett for the first time in a long time.”

The banter between Savannah and Zach is fantastic, as they love to tease and badger each other. Savannah’s teasing and sarcastic wit, as well as Zach’s fantastic comebacks, are some of my favorite parts of the story. I also love that he admires her intellect and passion for gender equality. Though they don’t always see eye-to-eye, they respect each other, and as the story progresses, you can see Zach slowly finding hope and happiness again, and it is wonderful. Plus, their intimate scenes are steamy and totally swoon-worthy!

There are also some great scenes with the rest of the Garrett family. This is such a loving family, and they are always there for each other. I like how the family plays such an important part in all of their lives. They’ve worked hard to reconnect and heal the wounds from the past, and their relationship is repairing beautifully. I love how they advise and tease each other. The Garrett family cares deeply for each other, and their bond is wonderful.

Something else that I really like about this story and the series, in general, is that it brings to light the inequities of society, especially for women, during this time. This story takes place around twenty years before women gained the right to vote in America, and I love that the women, led by Savannah, fight for their rights and for a better future. All of the Garrett brothers’ love interests have strong beliefs and believe they should have the same opportunities as men. The Garrett brothers completely and wholeheartedly support their wives in their endeavors, which I adore!!

This is a great addition to the Seaswept Seduction Series! The characters are fantastic, the setting is wonderful, and the romance is steamy! I definitely recommend the book to lovers of historical romance! Thanks so much to Tracy Sumner for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.