London Tides by Carla Laureano - REVIEWED

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing London Tides David C. Cook (June 1, 2015) by Carla Laureano

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I studied literature and criticism at Pepperdine University and earned a degree in English in 1997. Since then, I’ve worked in a number of different industries as a salesperson, marketing manager, copywriter, and small business consultant. In addition to my work for corporate clients, I wrote for publications produced by the World Health Organization.

I love the history, culture, and mythology of Ireland and Scotland, which form the settings for most of my work. I also enjoy incorporating my background in martial arts and fencing into the action elements of my stories.

I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). I was selected as a finalist in ACFW’s 2012 Genesis contest in the speculative fiction category. My debut novel, a contemporary romance entitled Five Days in Skye, was released by David C Cook in June 2013 and went on to win RWA’s 2014 RITA Award for Inspirational Romance. My three book young adult fantasy series, SONG OF SEARE, is being released from NavPress in 2014 and 2015.

I live with my husband and two sons in Denver, Colorado.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Irish photojournalist Grace Brennan travels the world’s war zones documenting the helpless and forgotten. After the death of her friend and colleague, Grace is shaken.

She returns to London hoping to rekindle the spark with the only man she ever loved—Scottish businessman Ian MacDonald. But he gave up his championship rowing career and dreams of Olympic gold years ago for Grace ... only for her to choose career over him. Will life’s tides bring them back together ... or tear them apart for good this time?




My Thoughts:

“I know you’ve had more than you share of tragedy.  But you can’t live life just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  If you spend all your time waiting for the bad, you’ll miss everything good in the meantime.”  (p. 339)

This is a truth that it takes most people a lifetime to grasp.  At the point Grace hears these words, she has spent decades running from the people that mean the most to her.  Granted, she has also lost people she loved, and there is total fear in play, but no matter what has touched her life, she can’t let it paralyze her.  Ian, the man who spoke these words to Grace, has also lost people he loved, and he has poured his life into work to bury the pain instead of dealing with the loss.  These two together make quite a broken pair.

Carla Laureano has created some very realistic types of brokenness in her novel, London Tides. The characters have achieved a level of success in their professional lives, but in the personal and spiritual lives, they are pretty much dying from denial and fear.  When they intersect after a decade apart, the bottom line becomes what it has always been – fear and evasion.  But God intervenes, and truth smacks them in the face.  It isn’t until they are willing to give up control and yield to God’s plan that they find some measure of peace, and the strength to let go and ask for the help they need.

I won’t give any spoilers, but I will tell you that this is one of the most realistic novels I’ve read lately regard to relationships.  Laureano  doesn’t just develop the romantic relationship, but deep and lasting friendships blossom.  These folks are real.  Their pain and struggles are recognizable, and the resolution is realistic and a bit painful.  This is a fabulous novel and one I am happy to recommend!

If you would like to read the first chapter of London Tides, go HERE.