This story began with such a spark that lured me right in! The intrigue of the conflict in France and Lili's own family pulled me right in. As she is propelled through time I was flipping page to page. Unfortunately, I could not get past Artimage's dialect/accent. And that may be because i have a hard time imagining it, but so much of my brain power went to trying to figure that out; It became so much of the story to point of distraction.

But I will say, that Sarah Eden commits to her stories and characters. I just wish I could have a sound bite of this particular character to help me imagine it better.

The grandfather's knowledge of her time travel brought me right back to the story for sure. Watching Elisabeth navigate life 80 years in the future was very intriguing and entertaining at times.

Eden delivers a sweet, modest romance with a fun time-travel twist from Revolutionary France to Victorian England. Fleeing the Tribunal in 1793, Lili Minet is swept into 1873 England, where she’s rescued by reserved lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce. As a tender bond grows between them, danger from Lili’s past resurfaces—testing whether love can truly transcend time.

Here’s what makes this story shine:

🕰 A fresh twist on time travel. With Revolutionary France and Victorian England as vivid backdrops, this isn’t just historical fiction—it’s a compelling blend of eras that raises the emotional stakes.

💫 Found family & timeless bonds. Armitage’s grandfather adds warmth and wisdom, becoming the anchor both Lili and Armitage didn’t know they needed.

⚔ Peril and pursuit across time. The danger from Lili’s past creates real tension—and makes her courage all the more admirable.

My thoughts? The Tides of Time is a gentle romance wrapped in mystery, history, and just a touch of magic. If you enjoy stories where time travel is a portal to the heart as much as to another era, this tale will sweep you away.

💕 The Swoon Scale 💕

(This is how I rate my books. For more information, see my pinned post on instagram @thewholesomeshelf.)

💍 Swoon-Worthy Sparks ✨ (3.9/5)

💬 The Dialogue 🎭 (3.5/5)

🦋 Butterfly Effect 🥺 (3.8/5)

📖 Re-Readability 🔁 (3.8/5)

Final Verdict: A beautifully written, sweet story that focuses more on the history and what happened to the main characters’ families.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'm a big fan of Sarah M. Eden's books. Every time I pick up a new story from her, it becomes an instant favorite. That said, some just hit a bit different and become more than just an instant favorite. They spark something and become like a dear friend. A comfort read. The Tides of Time falls under this category.
I was so blown away by the fabulous storytelling, the history, and the characters that I finished the book and proceeded to immediately read it again. This is one book that is worthy of being owned in every version. It was breathtaking and beautiful. Just thinking about it has me wanting to dive back in for another read!
Truly a work of art and one of my favorite stories from Sarah!

First off, how could you not want to read this book? I read it several month ago, but looks like I didn't save my feedback. This is the first in a new time slip series and it is amazing and magical. It's a different side of Sarah M Eden, but one that I fully came to love. From the first few pages, you are engulfed in the time periods. the story and are hooked.

Lili is a strong and determined woman. Armitage, thoughtful, brave and kind. He easily accepts her and their friendship. Can we just have more characters like these two? They both have such incredible growth throughout the story and the focus is more on their stories, history, families etc than romance, but it worked beautifully! There was the political aspect and intrigue from the beginning, so you knew that would be a large part of the story. I can't wait for the next book.

As much as I love Sarah M. Eden, I wasn't entirely sure how I'd feel about a time-travel novel from her. I shouldn't have worried. This was brilliant and I loved it.

*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC; the review is my own.*

When I'm not reading a Sarah M. Eden book, I tend to forget how much I enjoy her work. And then I casually pick one up and get sucked in because her stories are so good and her writing facilitates their telling so effectively. This is the eighth book of hers that I've read, and at this point, I don't think it's possible to go wrong picking up anything she's written. This book, however, is my favorite of hers so far, and I'm so excited to see that there's a second coming out in the series.

Even though it's truly a horrific period of time, the French revolution and the Reign of Terror fascinate me. I can't help wondering how people could have gotten to the point that they cheered seeing people beheaded, even children. But I suppose history is full of similarly awful events in most countries.

Then Eden added a bit of time travel into the mix, and everything became even better. She did it in a way that, somehow, was completely believable. Sure, why couldn't people be transported through time in certain waters during certain weather conditions? It seemed totally plausible while I was reading, even though I know it's not. She was able to appeal to my willing suspension of disbelief so that I didn't even feel like I was reading something fantastical. Bravo. And let me just say that the time travel gets even better by the end of the book.

I loved the Scarlet Pimpernel element of this book, how Lili (20s) risked so much to save so many. My heart broke for her, having her own older brother so desperate to capture her and see her punished for her actions. (By the way, if you haven't read The Scarlet Pimpernel, you should.) Lili was brave and kind and so stubborn in the best of ways. She and Armitage (25) were so well matched. I loved the care and protectiveness Armitage had for Lili once they stopped being wary of each other. The grammarian within me struggled with the South Hampton way of speaking employed by the Pierces and others on the island (switching their subject and object pronouns), but I appreciate Eden's commitment to accuracy . . . even if a little bit of me died inside every time one of them spoke. Back to the characters, though. Armitage's grandfather was wonderful, and I adored him. The women who dubbed themselves Armitage's adopted aunts were perfect.

So yes, I loved this book.

If you love historical romance with a unique twist, The Tides of Time is one to add to your list. It combines time travel, heart-pounding danger, and a slow-burn romance that feels grounded and magical.

Lili Minet’s journey begins in 1793, right in the middle of the chaos of the French Revolution. She's on the run from Robespierre’s Tribunal, and her escape takes a dramatic turn when a storm sweeps her off a ship that's headed for England—only she doesn’t just get tossed into the sea, she gets tossed 80 years into the future. Lili wakes up in 1873 England, completely disoriented and stranded in a world decades ahead of everything she knows.

She's rescued by Armitage Pierce, a lighthouse keeper with a quiet strength and his own emotional walls. When he rescues Lili from the sea, he doesn’t expect the mysterious, guarded woman who barely speaks and clearly doesn’t trust him. Their early interactions are full of tension and misunderstanding, but slowly give way to friendship, and eventually, something tender.

This story captivated me from the first page. I loved the dual POV and found Lili's relationship with Armitage's grandfather so sweet. I loved watching Lili and Armitage's relationship develop—it was definitely a slow-burn.

I love historical fiction, especially when an author is able to bring it to life for me, and I loved how Sarah Eden blended the fantasy element of time-slip into the French Revolution. I don't want to give any spoilers, but several times I was surprised by how the time-slip element provided unexpected twists and turns in Lili's story. I'm thrilled this is the beginning of a new series and can't wait to read the next book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I was intrigued by the beginning and Lili being in revolutionary Paris in 1793 and seeing how much the world and technology changed in 80 years was fun.

I hated the colloquial dialogue of Armitage’s village and all the French dialogue. It was too much. I get it’s for authenticity but according to reviews, the French isn’t correct speech. I understand doing some to establish how different their worlds are at the beginning but it wasn’t my jam the whole book long.

I loved Lili in England and Mr Pierce! No fete!? I seemed to have blinked and missed the romance from Lili disliking Armitage to liking him. What about the village ladies?! This book had twists which maybe I should’ve counted on happening but it was all too quick at the end especially how they could just time travel every time. I would think they’d come across more time travelers in the village multiple times a day if anyone going into the water automatically time traveled. Sometimes the green flash was mentioned and sometimes not. Sometimes stormy and sometimes not.

It just ended too nice and tidy. Maybe they’ll be in the 2nd book or not since it’s by another author.

Content: mentions of beheading, death,

I loved this story! I've mentioned before, but time travel books usually aren't my thing, because of all of the logistics of making it work out believably for any relationship. But this author gives us a little twist, and I'm here for it! I had a hard time putting the book down, and read it pretty quickly. I'm glad I picked it up and gave it a chance, because I was not at all disappointed.

I will read anything by Sarah Eden, and this book showed all the strong writing and characterization that I expect from her books. Time travel books can be difficult to make believable and compelling, but Eden manages it well. This one is particularly interesting given the time periods are both past, from revolutionary France to late 19th century England. Lili and Armitage are fully realized characters that you come to care about quickly, and the action drives along well except perhaps for a little dip in the middle. Overall, an excellent read with strong, believable characters and a beautiful relationship at its heart. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

The Tides of Time, by Sarah M. Eden, tells a tale about Lili Minet, a young woman living in France during the height of the French Revolution. She has already helped seventy-two individuals escape certain death. Lili now has a bounty on her head and needs to escape these shores as soon as possible!

As Lili leads another family to safety, she senses they are being followed by Agent Geraud Gagnon, a man who seeks her demise. Sadly, he is also her brother. Lili allows Geraud to chase her until this family is aboard a departing ship and safely hidden out of sight. Unfortunately, Lili arrives at the dock to find the ship had left without her!

Moments after she climbs on a fishing boat, Lili learns her brother had followed her onboard. In the midst of a massive storm, she is swept overboard. Lili is suddenly in the year 1873!

It is interesting to watch as Lili and Armitage Pierce,the lighthouse keeper who rescues her from the sea, try to find their way in this strange situation. Once Lili realizes she has jumped ahead eighty years, she must learn to function in this new world!

You have no idea what will happen when her brother, Geraud, shows up just weeks behind Lili. You will also be surprised to see what happens when Lili and Armitage continue to travel through the Tides of Time!

I’m a huge Sarah M. Eden fan. She’s an auto read author for me. This book grabbed me from the start! I was so invested in how things would play out for Lili. I felt like the story slowed down a little too much in the middle, but toward the end things picked back up with an exciting conclusion. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Breathtaking, romantic, heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and beyond stunningly written, “The Tides of Time” is a time-travel romance novel that kept me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning to see what was going to happen next! ⁣
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Sarah M. Eden’s writing style, world-building, characterizations, and storytelling are breathtaking. I could envision each and every moment through her visceral and detailed descriptions, each and every element jumped right off of the page, and so many moments pulled at my heart strings and brought tears to my eyes.⁣
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Lili is such an incredibly brave, kindhearted, intelligent, and driven woman who, without hesitation, puts others before herself. When confronted with extreme danger on a daily basis, she saves so many lives, and knows she must stand up for what she believes in. When she is whisked forward in time, she soon meets Armitage. Armitage is a caring, loving, hard-working, and protective man, whom, understandably, is very guarded in many ways. ⁣
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The more Lili and Armitage get to know one another, their relationship grows into something so beautiful, however, when danger comes and the truth is revealed, will they be able to hold on to happily-ever-after? With explorations of love, grief, family, and hope against the odds, this novel truly has so much in it. Seeing puzzle pieces come together, the past, present, and future connecting in unimaginable ways, and the sense of something magical bringing together what is meant to be is so incredibly special and wondrous. ⁣
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Also, I absolutely adore grandfather. Oh my goodness I hope to see so many of these characters in a future novel. ⁣
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I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this novel, and can’t wait to read what Ms. Eden writes next!!
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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the e-ARC of this INCREDIBLE book, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the beautiful physical ARC as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book starts off with a bang and pulls the reader in from the first page. I will admit that I struggled a little with Armitage’s way of speaking. It took some getting used to. This book has mystery and intrigue. It has a well developed romance. The story unfolds masterfully. I really enjoyed it.

The Tides of Time is such a great time travel story. I loved the relationship that grows between times that shows love has no bounds. Sarah M. Eden always does such a phenomenal job at building her characters that you feel like they are your best friend, which is no different in this book. I found myself reading late into the night just so I could finish those last few pages.

4.5
Wow! What an exciting read! I really enjoyed this book and thought it was really well-written. I loved the characters and really enjoyed how things ended. It did feel a bit open-ended so I'm excited to see there will be a sequel. I highly recommend for fans of historical fiction/romance.

This is historical fiction set in France in 1793 during the French Revolution and the beginning of the Reign of Terror.

Lili/Elizabeth bravely helped 76 people escape the guillotine in France. While fleeing for her life, she falls off a boat and is rescued by an English man in 1873. Lili is trying to cope with the trauma she has experienced, worried about the people in France, and attempting to fit into society in a different country and time period. I wondered what would happen to her and if she would ever be safe and able to go home.

I highly recommend this book and think it would be fun to discuss in a book club. I love everything about it. It has romance, a little mystery, time travel, historical events, and wonderful well-developed characters. The story pulled me in from the first page. Not to be missed! Easily 5 stars.

I was taken back in time to place I have rarely read about, the French Revolution. The heroine was inspiring and I enjoyed reading about her learning to trust when she is thrust forward in time! Lili and Armitage have to learn together how to move forward and in whom they can trust.

I will never, ever grow tired of reading one of Sarah’s novels. She is a wordsmith, a historian and every book she writes leaves you in content. This book was so well written, so well done. I enjoyed every minute of it. The historical aspects of this story were amazing, the characters endearing. I loved the journey Armatige and Lili took together to heal and find happiness. The plot twists were so well done. And the ending was *chefs kiss* Sarah, yet again you have written such an amazing story!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

The Tides of Time is a tender, beautifully written story that blends romance, time travel, and heart-tugging emotion in the most seamless way. Sarah M. Eden delivers a love story that feels timeless—full of longing, hope, and the quiet magic of connection across eras. Poignant, charming, and impossible to put down.