I don't think I've ever read a Cindy Woodsmall book that didn't make me cry. This one started out with tears, had tears in the middle, and ended with them but some of those tears were joyful.

Tara Abbott aged out of the foster care system at 18 and was looking forward to starting college in the fall. Her plans were set, and her two best friends were supporting her all the way. Then came the call from her two half-brothers' grandmother, asking her to visit. She'd only met them once. What could they possibly want with her? When she arrives, the brothers she met when they were 1 and 5 are now 5 and 9, and the grandmother is quite obviously dying. When the grandmother asks Tara to move in and take care of her boys, at first Tara refuses. She's only 18. After being abandoned by her mother at the age of 5, what does she know about raising kids? Unable to abandon the only family she knows, Tara agrees. When tragedy strikes, will she completely lose herself, or will she find that love endures forever?

The tides of emotion ebb and flow throughout this book. From Tara's continued frantic search for her brothers, to Gavin's steady care of a woman he knows precious little about, to the Glynn Girls and their wild schemes, there is such depth of love and care in the story that tears are often the response. Tara's strength of character shines, often in spite of her chaotic beginning.

I know Woodsmall more for her Amish fiction than for contemporary romance, but don't think for one minute that she can't write anything but Amish! This story pulses with life, and has a river of love flowing through it. I highly recommend this!

Lovely book with engaging characters and an intriguing storyline! I can't wait to read more by this author in the future! Also, can we all just take a minute to appreciate the cover?! I think that it fits the book so well.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I am finding it hard to rate this book as I just could not get into it or was able to finish.

A beautiful story of heartache, love, and trust God.

I read this story in under twelve hours as I could not put it down. My poor husband had to finish fixing dinner as I was not stopping. Tara’s story will worm its way into your heart and soul and will not let go. You will find yourself crying and not even realizing it.

Beware if you are experiencing a hard time with grief over losing a loved one. This book is all about how to learn to let the hurt go, turn it over to God and cherish the memories you have with the loved one. When you are ready I would recommend reading it as it may help heal your pain.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, WaterBrook & Multnomah, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall
A New York Times best-selling author releases her first southern novel, a Steel Magnolias-meets-Sweet Home Alabama story set on St. Simons Island.
After losing two loved ones in a devastating tornado and suffering a head injury, Tara Abbott flees to St. Simons Island, where her disorientation causes the lines between imagination and reality, past and present to blur.
There she encounters island residents Julep Burnside, Luella Ward, Sue Beth Manning, and Dell Calhoun--The Glynn Girls--who have been friends since Bible camp, forty years earlier. When Julep's son Gavin identifies a troubled soul in need of help, can the Glynn Girls guide Tara back to herself?
The canvas painting on the wall called to Tara as she walked back into the kitchen, this time her arms filled with rock-climbing gear. She set everything on the table and went to the painting. Once again her heart beat faster, and whispers from a past she didn’t remember haunted her. It was the sole remaining object from her childhood. The day social services arrived at the trailer to take her away, Tara begged to take the painting with her. After all, it had been given to her…maybe.
The painting was of a lighthouse, beach, and ocean, as if the artist’s view was from the ocean. Deep red and gold reflected off the water as though it was depicting sunset, or maybe sunrise, but those colors were usually brighter and lighter. That painting and the woman who painted it seemed connected to Tara somehow. At the bottom the artist had signed it “To my Spunky Boo ~ Love you, Nana.” Tara had no recollection of anyone named Nana, but she did recall her mom calling her Spunky Boo at times, so the artist either knew that or also called Tara that. As a child abandoned to the foster care system by a drug-addicted mother, she liked to daydream that someone somewhere loved her.
A noise from the bedrooms in the small apartment pulled Tara from her thoughts. Why was she marinating in old hurts? After months of working two jobs, she had the entire day off, and she would not spend another second thinking about sad things.
She sat in a kitchen chair and put on her athletic shoes. She’d restocked the grocery store shelves until midnight, so she’d slept late. As good as that felt, she knew the best part of the day was still ahead. Her gear was spread across the small table: dynamic ropes, various sizes and shapes of carabiners, and a climbing pack with power snacks and water. Her TomTom was on the table too. It had nothing to do with climbing mountains, but it got her to the agreed-upon destinations to gather with other climbers.
I highly recommend reading this book!
As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall is a 4 star book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
more books by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall.
A Christmas Haven
The Gift of Christmas Past
Amish Vines and Orchards
1. A Season for Tending
2. The Winnowing Season
3. For Every Season
4. Seasons of Tomorrow
Amish of Summer Grove
1. Ties That Bind
2. Fraying at the Edge
3. Gathering the Threads

AS THE TIDE COMES IN is the second book in Ms. Woodsmalls' contemporary series (the first was The Gift of Christmas Past and fans will want to read that one first to get Hadley's story. )



Tara is a foster child, who gave up her dreams of college when her two half-brothers needed a guardian. She was eighteen, but the state left them alone since she stayed under-radar and she raised her half-brothers until they graduated high school.



The book takes a dark turn there, and what follows is rather traumatic, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, tear-inducing. You will need to keep a box of tissues handy. There are humorous moments when the tourists on St. Simon's Island believe Tara is a ghost, and the southern mamas who hover around firefighter Gavin are a hoot. I figured out the direction the book was going to go, and kept reading to see if it'd get there. It has a sweet, satisfactory ending and is a good read.



This is more women's fiction than romance, but there is a sweet romance included. Gavin is kind and patient with Tara, staying calm, which is something she needed. He is a doll.





I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own

As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall is a beautifullly written story. Tara’s life is falling apart and she goes to St Simon’s Island to figure out her early years. There, she finds a group of women. This story could have been like any other. But what sets it apart is the author’s ability to convey deep emotions and to develop very real characters that leap off the page. Fantastic book! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book. It was quite a different sort of read. Slowly, the plot opens up and you finally understand this young woman -- I really hate flashbacks, I mean really hate them -- finds her kin and accepts the challenge of raising them. Flash forward and we have a multi-generational cast of characters that, in my opinion, are too many to keep track of comfortably. However, the story is quite intricate, and if you are serious about it, you discover an unusual premise that is a bit refreshing even with flashbacks.

I have never read this author before but because this was a contemporary story, it drew me in. (I'm not a fan of Amish stories.)
It is a story I will not soon forget. So well written. So painful but so hopeful. Gavin’s initial relationship with Tara as an allegory of God’s redemption of us, his patience, his love and how even when we don’t understand, he still is working for good.
This is a multilayered story with humorous mamas, real life financial woes, a mystery and a heartbreaking event. At many times, a tough read but the end was superb. I might have reread the ending several times.
I definitely recommend this book.
I was given a complimentary eBook by Net Galley but the opinions are entirely my own.

I enjoyed reading this book with its hint of mystery and southern charm. I did have a difficult time connecting to the main protagonist mainly due to the deep anger she harbored. It all worked out in the end and I am happy I continued to read it.

This was a beautiful story of a girl who discovered love. As a foster child, Tara had known abandonment from her mother. Through a series of circumstances, she ended up becoming a "mother" of sorts to her half brothers. After tragedy strikes, she loses all sense of who she is. She proceeds on a trip that had been planned and because of a head injury, struggles with confusion and depression. Through the help of a new friend, though, she learns that she is a vessel of love and sees how love had covered her in all things in her past and in her future. She learns about her heritage and finds a new family and obtains a new purpose.

One thing I enjoyed about this book was the characters and how they developed. Tara had a deep strength about her. The Glynn girls were super quirky and fun, but real. Their friendships were deep and strong, but they also found they needed healing. Gavin was the consummate hero. One thing I didn't enjoy was the sudden changes. I generally love books with varying viewpoints, but this one seemed a bit "jerky" at times and it took a few moments to re-gather my bearings. All in all, though, this was a good character-driven story with a great deal of growth and a feel-good ending.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ecopy of this book. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions contained herein are my own.

This was a charming book. Even though the sad aspects were a little overwhelming at times, I enjoyed this story from start to finish. The "Mamas" characters reminded me a bit of "The Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, with their wacky but intensely loyal decades old friendship. That was a favorite part of the book for me as that is one of my all-time favorite movies. I literally read this book in one evening without hardly putting it down, and that is rare for me to read a book like that. Great message throughout the book and a good and believable ending that didn't feel rushed. The only reason I knocked it down to 4 stars (maybe a 4.5 honestly) was because the tragedies of the book made my heart hurt. All in all, a pretty great book that will likely make it on to my keeper shelf.

In Cindy and Erin's Woodsmall's As the Tide Comes In, this emotional, heart-warming and tear-jerking Christian romance novel would make you shed tears and blow your nose a few times throughout the novel. For Tara Abbott, she lived in a foster care system and never knew much about her parents or grandparents. At age eighteen, her grandmother asked her to take care of her two younger half-brothers since she was dying from cancer. After she almost refused her, one look at them had sent her heart soaring and agreed to do so. For twelve years, she did everything she could to raise them and watch them grow up, graduate and spread their wings. But before they could do that, tragedy happened during a storm, when she was knocked out unconscious with a head injury. When she recovered, she later learned they didn't make it and they died in the cabin. Bereft from grief and confusion, she went to St. Simons Island to heal and find what she was looking for. That's when she met Gavin Burnside, a firefighter who had lived a hard life on the island. He once grew up overweight and had a special bond with a childhood friend named Siobhan. But his mother was stuck in debt from a tragic accident after his father died. Besides his mother, her three other friends had pseudo-adopted him as he grew up to an outstanding man he was today. When they crossed each other's paths, they learned a lot about life, love, and believing in God. While Tara continued to grief and recover, a connection between Gavin and her grew from friendship and then later blossomed to love, as she set a foot to find her own path to make a life out of herself and to fill her life with happiness and true love by God's hand.

Personally, I don't enjoy Amish fiction, but know there are many great writers in that genre. I was excited to see she had written a contemporary Christian fiction novel. The author blended a great story using multigenerational characters, some with eccentric personalities. While the story starts with great tragedy, we see hope unfold as the Glynn Girls and a firefighter, Gavin, put aside their own agendas to help her. Many Christian Fiction romance novels share a similar storyline, but this one gives a great new story.

As the Tide Comes In
A Novel
by Cindy Woodsmall; Erin Woodsmall
WaterBrook & Multnomah
WaterBrook
Christian , Romance
Pub Date 21 Aug 2018
I am reviewing As the Tide Comes In through WaterBrook and Netgalley:
Tara Abbott’s life is spiraled out of control by an unthinkable loss. She finds herself having to travel from North Carolina to Georgia, on St Simon’s Island. Despite the fact that she is both confused and scared she is determined to find the answers about her past! She wants to learn about her life before the years she spent in Foster Care!
Will Tara be able to find steady ground on the island, surrounded by a group of kind hearted, eccentric older women called the Glynn girls, as well as a determined firefighter? Or will the truth end up tearing her identity into pieces?
I give As the Tide Comes in Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!

In a poignantly written story, Woodsmall tells the story of a young woman who has had more bumps and bruises in her young life than anyone deserves yet still stands tall and proud. At 18, Tara ages out of foster care and find out that her grandmother is dying. She steps up and agrees to raise her two half-brothers when tragedy strikes again 12 years later. With major brain trauma that affects her memory, all Tara can remember is that she was supposed to go to St. Simons Island Georgia for some reason. But after reaching there, her confusion and memory problems get even worse. Gavin, a local EMT, and his mom and the other Glynn Girls take Tara under their wing.

This is Woodsmall's first non-Amish book and she definitely hit a home run. The emotions run high throughout the book as you follow Tara's ups and downs and her heartbreaking and God-threatening peace. The characters are so well created you feel like you are right there with them on the vividly painted St. Simon's Island. Wonderful spiritual content is woven perfectly throughout the story. The story just sucks you in from start to finish and fills you with a gamut of emotion from laughter to tears.

If you like contemporary fiction with a light touch of romance, this is one you will definitely one to read. It made my 2018 favorites list.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher WaterBrook through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

I have not read any of the authors books prior to As The Tide Comes In, BUT now I will be adding them to my reading pile. Tara Abbott, the main character, will capture your heart from the very beginning. She’s a fighter, adventurous, courageous and loving. Despite her circumstances or what is put in her path, she keeps trudging on. The stories backdrop begins in the mountains of Georgia and picks up on St. Simon’s Island in North Carolina alongside the ocean. You will experience a full range of emotions from anger to grief, laughter to love. It delivers on them all while beautifully weaving a story that you feel as though you are right in the middle of. And once you meet the supporting characters the Glynn Girls (just think Golden Girls) and the charming, patient hero Gavin, you will not be able to put this book down. Oh how I want to meet the Glynn Girl’s on St. Simon’s Island! They put a twist of comedy to lighten the grief and sorrow Tara is feeling from loss of her family and physical pain from a head injury. That is the only detail I will unveil. You need to ride the wave of emotions for yourself that this book delivers with a punch. You will not be left with sadness but filled with joy and wisdom along the way. This is a book you will want to add to your reading list!

Blog Review at http://buildabridgeandgetonoverit.blogspot.com/2018/08/review-of-as-tide-comes-in-by-cindy_29.html

Author Cindy Woodsmall is known primarily for her Amish fiction; this is her first contemporary fiction novel, set primarily on St. Simons Island. Co-authored with her daughter in law Erin, this book features two main characters: Tara Abbot, who has just experienced a terrible tragedy, and firefighter Gavin Burnside - he just lost his father and is also in the middle of a serious financial crisis.

With Gavin's "four Mamas" (the Glynn Girls) and Tara's best friends, (Elliott and Hadley) there are interesting supporting characters. The authors have added rich family histories - even the families that are not fully blood; and there's even a little bit of mystery. I am finding it a challenge to completely describe the storyline without giving too much away, as it really is a very layered book with many sub plots and expansion into the background of the supporting cast.

Overall, I will say that I enjoyed this book and felt this was a fine first outing into this genre for the authors. There were several plot points and dialogue that seemed just slightly odd/off, or just didn't ring FULLY true for me. I didn't think the mystery was at all hard to figure out and the resolution was expected; also, some of Tara's behaviors felt inconsistent and mildly annoying rather than creating empathy - but again, overall the story was interesting and I believe this book is worth reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

As the Tide Comes In is the newest Christian novel by Cindy Woodsmall. Tara Abbott lives in Sylva, Georgia where she has raised her two stepbrothers since she was eighteen years old. Sean and Darryl will be heading off to college in the fall and the three of them are going to visit St. Simons Island during the summer. While Tara is out running in the woods, a devastating tornado strikes. Tara loses both of her siblings and suffers a head injury. While in the hospital, Tara has a dream where the boys tell her to go to St. Simons Island. Despite her friends concerns, Tara heads for the island. Unfortunately, Tara becomes confused, disoriented, and ill. She gets rescued by Gavin Burnside and his four mothers’, The Glynn Girls. Can they help Tara recover and find her place? Gavin and The Glynn Girls are having a tough time themselves. Gavin’s father died leaving behind a mess for them to clean up. They have a balloon payment coming due and only one resource. While Gavin is reluctant to use it, they have no choice. Join Tara, Gavin, and The Glynn Girls on their journey in As the Tide Comes In.

As the Tide Comes In is Cindy Woodsmall’s first non-Amish, full-length book and she did not disappoint with this heartfelt narrative. As the Tide Comes In is a well-written and engaging novel. The pace is steady throughout with smooth transitions as the point-of-view switches between characters. The author created realistic characters with Tara and Gavin who are going through true-to-life situations. I was delighted with the quirky The Glynn Girls. Julep, Luella, Sue Beth and Dell are the four ladies who make up The Glynn Girls. Julep is Gavin’s mother, but all four ladies helped to raise him (and still mother him). The four of them have a strong friendship that helps them get through the good and, most especially, the bad times. The Glynn Girls add levity and lightness to As the Tide Comes In. I especially enjoyed watching the romance bloom between Luella and Charles McKenzie. There are beautiful descriptions of the island and the vistas Tara experiences when she is rock climbing. As the Tide Comes In a story of hope, love, grief, heartbreak, joy and faith. It is important to never to lose sight of the fact that God is always with us. It is hard to remember when we are stricken with sadness, grief, or despair. We need to let ourselves mourn the loss of a loved one, but then it comes time to move forward with our lives (though we will never forget our loved one). We need to remember the happy times and find ways to help others. I found As the Tide Comes In to be an emotional, heartfelt novel. You will need to have a box of tissues nearby. There is some predictably to the story, but it did stop me from having a pleasurable reading experience. I am rating As the Tide Comes In 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). You will not want to miss out on Cindy Woodsmall’s poignant novel As the Tide Comes In.

A beautiful story with lots of emotions and challenges

Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times best-selling author of Amish novels presents her first southern novel "As the tide comes in" together with her daughter-in-law Erin Woodsmall. It is a contemporary novel that treats the issues of grief, hope, and survival. It presents lots of emotions, twists and turns, and nicely developed believable characters.
Tara Abbott has grown up in difficult circumstances and has multiple questions about life before she was placed in foster care. As a young adult of eighteen she accepted to raise her two half-brothers, Sean and Darryl, and put her own life-goals aside. After an unbelievable tragedy she arrives disoriented on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The lines between her imagination and the reality, her past and the present are obscure because her life is spinning out of control. She finally arrives in Sapphira's (Saffy) art studio, who was her grandmother, a fact that is unknown to her. Her time on St. Simons Island is a help to her and she learns to put a positive view on her past of abandonment and foster care through her talks with God and the people she encounters.
The four Glynn Girls, Tulep, Sue Beth, Luella, Dell, are eccentric, kind-hearted, and provide humor on the island. Julep is Gavin's mother and the owner of a store in which she rents space to the other three Glynn Girls, but she is in danger of losing the store. All four of them act as mothers for Gavin.
Gavin, a firefighter with a big heart, will inherit Saffy's house if the long-lost grand-daughter does not show up. He goes through the challenges of dismantling Saffy's house ahead of time because of the urgent need of funds only to find out just after the paperwork for the inheritance was finalized that the granddaughter was not so far away.

"As the tide comes" in is the first novel by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall that I have read. Some of the actions and interactions, mainly of the Glynn Girls, turned the book into a long novel and could have been compressed, but nevertheless I highly recommend the novel to readers who are interested in the topic of grief and the dealing with it.

This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley free of charge. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
#AsTheTideComesIn #NetGalley